World's longest pier's 5th disaster

[Tornado]

A massive blaze destroyed part of Southend's historic pier today. Around 60 firefighters tackled flames leaping 30 to 40 feet into the air as the " absolutely huge" inferno engulfed up to 130 feet of the structure in Essex - the world's longest pleasure pier.

But over the years it has seen several disasters.

In 1959 a blaze destroyed the Pier Pavilion at the shore end of the pier, which was replaced by a ten-pin bowling alley.

Then in 1976 a fire destroyed most of the 1908 Pier Head.

Ten years later 1986 the MV Kingsabbey sliced through the pier between the Old and the New Pier Heads, severing the lifeboat slipway and causing irreparable damage to the boathouse.

And in 1995 fire struck again, this time destroying the bowling alley.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_brit...ticle318442.ece

Probably the most famous thing in Southend-On-Sea since "Essex Boys", lol.

So, cursed? Or is someone sick of walking to the end every day to get to work?