Mid-Autumn lanterns spark fire in Hong Kong flat, sending two elderly women to hospital
Festival decorations burst into flames on eve of holiday, prompting about 100 residents of high-rise block to flee
Two elderly Hong Kong women were gravely injured on Friday after two lanterns hanging in the home of one of the victims for the Mid-Autumn Festival burst into flames and set alight her flat on Thursday night.
The victim whose flat caught fire, 85, was critically injured, and her female neighbour, 82, was in serious condition after she lost her footing, fell and hit her head trying to flee the building.
In total, about 100 residents evacuated from the high-rise building during the blaze.
Emergency crews were called when the fire broke out in the 19th-floor flat of Block Five of Charming Garden on Hoi Ting Road in Kowloon shortly before 10.30pm Thursday. The 85-year-old woman surnamed Yau was alone at home at the time.
Police said four fire engines and three ambulances arrived at the scene.
Firefighters used a water jet to battle the blaze and rescued the two elderly women. The blaze was extinguished before 11pm Thursday.
Furniture and electrical appliances in Yau’s flat were damaged in the fire, and the living room walls were blackened.
Yau suffered burns to her face and was taken unconscious to Kwong Wah Hospital. As of Friday afternoon, she remained in critical condition. Her elderly neighbour was also being treated at Kwong Wah Hospital.
A police spokeswoman said initial investigation showed the fire was caused by two lanterns hanging from a window of the flat that “burst into flames”. She said they had so far found nothing suspicious.
