This Skyscraper Is Creating a 'Death Ray' That Apparently Melts Cars & Burns Carpet

There's a 37-story building in London with a reflective glass facade powerful enough to concentrate sunlight to the point where it has been blamed for melting the plastic of a Jaguar parked near it.

“They’re going to have to think of something. I’m gutted. How can they let this continue?” the owner of the now melted Jaguar Martin Lindsay told City A.M.

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/BBCLondonNews/status/374551486304247808"]

According to the BBC, 20 Fenchurch Street, a new building in London nicknamed the "Walkie-Talkie building," has created a "hot spot" that has not only melted parts of the Jag beyond repair, but also has scorched fabric, paintwork and a bike seat in the area.

A burnt spot, believed to be caused by the reflected rays of the sun, is seen on the doormat of a gentlemen's grooming shop across the street from the 37-story skyscraper at 20 Fenchurch Street in the City of London, which is still under construction, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013. (AP/Matt Dunham)

A lemon, with blistering from the sun, is seen in the window of a gentlemen's grooming shop. Developers for an unfinished skyscraper in central London say they are investigating the way the building reflects bright sunlight. (AP/Matt Dunham)

Eddie Cannon said parts of his van were melted by the "death ray" too, according to City A.M.

"The van looks a total mess - every bit of plastic on the left hand side and everything on the dashboard has melted, including a bottle of Lucozade that looks like it has been baked," Cannon told the newspaper.

Although the building developers are figuring out a solution to prevent any more smoldering casualties, they believe it might only be a temporary problem in the first place. According to BBC, the issue has to do with the height of the sun in the sky at this time of year, leading them to believe it could be a non-issue in two to three weeks. The concave shape of the building could have concentrated the rays as well.

The 37-story skyscraper at 20 Fenchurch Street, which is still under construction in the City of London, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013. The companies behind the skyscraper, nicknamed the Walkie-Talkie because of its curved shape, are responding to complaints from the owner of a Jaguar who told the BBC that the mirror, panels and the Jaguar badge had all melted from the concentrated heat of sunlight reflected from the building. (AP/Andy Scofield)

Others have expressed concern on the impact the reflection could have to people just passing by or on motorists eyes. The U.K.'s Independent has more on this perspective:

David Banks, a PR consultant who felt the force of the intense beam, said: “It is like a huge lens. It is magnifying the sunbeam. It’s like trying to fry ants with a magnifying glass.”

He added: “It was uncomfortable to be underneath and I was conscious that it was probably unsafe to spend too long under that particular beam.” Mr Banks expressed concern that the blinding rays could impair motorists’ vision.

For now, AFP reported that three parking areas have been blocked until a permanent solution is reached.

The building, which is still under construction, is set for completion in 2014.

(H/T: Jalopnik)

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