'Sprinklers out of action when CCTV tower burned'

Fire-fighting systems were not working in the brand new CCTV tower one year ago when it burst into flames, investigators revealed for the first time.

The national television network and its contractors had failed to fix broken emergency sprinklers and neglected to carry out various other tasks that would have made the fire control systems operational, Beijing Times quoted local prosecutors as saying on Monday.

The paper also said water pumps failed during the fire because contractors had violated safety procedures and drained reserves of fire-fighting water to use for construction purposes.