New Year celebrations in Russia went badly wrong when a Christmas tree erupted in spectacular flames in front of thousands of revellers.
The 80ft illuminated tree in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk turned into a blazing inferno and was destroyed in minutes.
A column of flames surged skywards from the tree in an unintended display.
The 80ft illuminated tree in Lenin Square Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on the island of Sakhalin
Thousands of revellers watched in horror as the tree went up in flames
Despite the freezing temperature. the tree was soon alight with flames lighting up the sky
Thousands watched in horror at the devastating blaze in Lenin Square in the Sakhalin island capital.
New Year revellers were warned to keep clear, but Soviet-era music kept blaring from a festive concert despite the shocking scenes.
There were no reports of injuries.
Temperatures were an icy minus 6C but the plastic tree was burned within minutes and only its metal frame remained intact.
Soviet-era music kept blaring from a festive concert despite the shocking scenes
Videos of the spectacle went viral along with jokes about a hot New Year party
All that was left of the tree was its wire frame after the fire, which firefighters were unable to control
Firefighters were called but the tree had been destroyed by the time they arrived.
A column of black smoke was seen spiralling skyward.
Videos of the spectacle went viral along with jokes about a hot New Year party in the Russian Far East,
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is capital of Sakhalin, the largest island in Russia, on the country’s Pacific coast.
An investigation was underway into the cause of the fire.
Despite the horror, the New Year was marked by more traditional fireworks in this city, and elsewhere in Russia.