A FIREWORKS show descended into chaos when a display went horribly wrong, unleashing fire from the sky and creating nightmarish scenes.
The alarming incident occurred at the Sky Theatre in China on October 2, causing terrified crowds to flee for safety as flames illuminated the night sky.
The fireworks display quickly transformed into a scene reminiscent of Armageddon.
According to officials, the fire was brought under control within minutes.
Attendees were seen using chairs as makeshift shields as they sought refuge from the spectacle turned meteor shower.
Videos shared on social media showed that the incident ignited small fires across the nearby city of Liuyang, located in Hunan Province.
However, local news reports indicated that these fires were extinguished shortly after they ignited.
Authorities have confirmed that there were no injuries reported during the chaos.
Officials established a mile-long evacuation zone as fire rained down on the audience, and additional firefighters were deployed to prevent a similar incident in the future.
Nonetheless, the Liuyang Bureau of Culture and Tourism cautioned that the dry weather could have easily turned the incendiary incident into a larger fire on the ground.
Social media users quickly reacted to the event, with one remarking: “What a man-made disaster!”
Officials have reiterated that there were no injuries during the incident.
The show, titled “October: The Sound of Blooming Flowers,” was designed to create a 3D visual effect using drones overland and on the nearby water.
Liuyang, known as the “hometown of fireworks,” frequently hosts grand pyrotechnic displays along the city's river.
In January, China Daily reported that over 160,000 people traveled to witness the New Year’s celebrations the previous month.
However, for reasons still unclear, the performance erupted into a terrifying blaze, contributing to China's growing list of combustible controversies.
In September, the outdoor fashion brand Arc’teryx ignited hundreds of small fireworks in the mountainous village of Re Long, Tibet, as part of a collaboration with artist Cai Guo-Qiang.
The display involved placing hundreds of incendiary devices along a 3,000-meter pathway on the Tibetan mountain, forming a snake-like pattern.
The climax of the display, dubbed “golden dragon,” extended for 2,500 meters.
Live-streamed online, the showcase quickly went viral on social media, amassing around 2 million views on the Chinese platform.
However, despite artist Cai’s extensive efforts to ensure the display was environmentally friendly, using biodegradable materials and relocating livestock and wildlife before the event, his work faced immediate backlash.
Chinese netizens condemned the stunt for disrespecting the sacred mountains surrounding Re Long, known as “the hometown of Mt Everest,” labeling the campaign as tone-deaf and arrogant.
The local government also faced heavy criticism for allowing the display to proceed, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into the matter.
In response to the backlash, both Cai’s studio and Arc’teryx issued statements apologizing for the event.
While neither of these recent incidents resulted in tragedy, these consecutive blunders have reignited the debate over whether such spectacles are worth the risk.
Sparks fell directly onto the crowd gathered at the Sky Theatre.
The pyrotechnics quickly spiraled out of control during the Thursday evening show.
The incident incited widespread panic among those in the surrounding Hunan province.
