Fire destroys famous 'Hanging House' villages A massive blaze has destroyed two famous villages housing China's Dong ethnic gr...

Fire destroys famous 'Hanging House' villages

A massive blaze has destroyed two famous villages housing China's Dong ethnic group.[Photo/CFP]

Hanging Houses in Phoenix town in Hunan province [Photo/CFP]

A massive blaze has destroyed two famous villages housing China's Dong ethnic group, Sanxiang City Express reports.

The fire broke out at 3 pm on Feb 13 in Xinfeng and Luotuan villages 85km from Tongdao county in Hunan province. It is estimated more than 70 houses were engulfed by flames and at least 500 hundred residents have been affected. The blaze was extinguished by 7 pm with no reports of any casualties. 

The two villages are famous for the Dong ethnic group's traditional building "Hanging House". The county's government has accommodated victims in schools and families in nearby villages, and earmarked funds for disaster relief.