Call it stupidity or plain bad luck, a BMW owner in eastern China found his luxury car destroyed in fire after sparks from the incense sticks he lit during a religious ritual triggered a blaze. The incident happened in Yangzhou city on Tuesday.
A video, posted by a neighbour and taken minutes before the incident, shows the man and his wife placing offerings in utensils and setting up giant incense sticks, as part of a ritual to thank god for blessing them with a new car and bring good luck.
According to reports, the fire department suspects the blaze began after the man burnt incense on the cloth, which was placed across the vehicle’s hood.
Incidentally, the man had bought the car at twice the cost of the same model in the United States, thanks to the hefty tax imposed on imported cars in China, Beijing’s South China Morning Post reported.
{{/usCountry}}Incidentally, the man had bought the car at twice the cost of the same model in the United States, thanks to the hefty tax imposed on imported cars in China, Beijing’s South China Morning Post reported.
{{/usCountry}}Photographs of the car taken after the incident showed the BMW reduced to a smoldering piece of metal, well beyond repair.