Ancient Tibetan town in Shangri-La destroyed in inferno

A 10-hour inferno has razed an ancient Tibetan town in the tourist area of Shangri-la China’s south-west Yunnan province.

There is no immediate report of casualties, and the cause of the fire is unclear.

The Deqen prefecture government said the fire broke out at 1.27am local time in the ancient Tibetan town of Dukezong.

It says more than 1,000 firefighters responded to the blaze and brought it under control after 11am local time.

The official Xinhua News Agency says more than 100 houses were destroyed. Dukezong means “the town of moon” in Tibetan. The town dates back 1300 years ago, when it was an important stop on the South Silk Road, according to Xinhua.

It is now one of the most renowned resorts in Shangri-la, known for its well-preserved ancient streets, Tibetan dwellings and traditional culture.

The state-run China Central Television says most structures in Dukezong are made of wood and the fire spread easily because of dry weather.

Photos and video footage show the town engulfed in a sea of fire that turned the night sky red.

AP