Wong Tai Sin garage blast 'started when passer-by stopped to light cigarette'
Police sources believe Wong Tai Sin explosion caused by a pedestrian lighting cigarette and igniting fumes from the damaged vehicle
The dramatic explosion that killed three people on Sunday is suspected to have been triggered by a pedestrian who tried to light a cigarette outside the garage, according to police sources.
An investigation found that a middle-aged man moved to light a cigarette seconds before a series of explosions rocked the garage in Wong Tai Sin, one police source said.
"We suspect gas leaked from an LPG taxi in the garage and the lighter caused a spark that set off the blast," he said.
The man was among nine people who were injured in the incident.
"He was injured in the back of the head and was discharged from hospital after treatment," the source said, adding that police were still looking for him.
He said investigators would inspect the taxi today to find out whether the gas was released from the gas tank or gas tube of the taxi, which was driven to the garage for repairs to a bumper and side mirror shortly before the explosions.
Last night, the Buildings Department said it had obtained a closure order in court for a nearby six-storey building in order to carry out emergency repair work, as the staircases were seriously damaged in the fire.
Its spokeswoman said the structure of the building remained strong, but it was not known when the repair work would be completed.
A fire broke out in the Wan Fung Street garage on Sunday afternoon after a series of explosions shattered windows and sent debris flying.
Among those killed were the garage owner, Wu Hon-wai, 47, and a taxi driver, Chan Kam-por, 61, who had just handed in his vehicle for repair.
Ng Hoi-ha, 65, who owned a glass shop next to the garage, was also killed.
Last night, a garage worker, Lai Chun-ho, 32, remained in critical condition in the Prince of Wales Hospital, Sha Tin.
Two of the injured - a man, 41, and woman, 80 - were in stable condition in Kwong Wah Hospital, Yau Ma Tei. The others had been discharged.
According to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the garage was not on its list of 28 approved workshops for LPG vehicles.
Alfred Sit Wing-hang, deputy director of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, said: "We are very concerned; it was a rare incident."
He promised a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion, adding that officials were examining whether the incident was related to work going on in the garage at the time.
A government source said the working group was also investigating whether dangerous goods were being illegally stored in the garage. "It should be a one-off blast but investigations showed there was a series of explosions that lasted for a while," the source said.
Bystanders claimed they heard about 20 bangs after the initial blast.
In a meeting with Wong Tai Sin residents last night, a representative from the Fire Services Department said flammable materials were found inside the garage, but did not say whether they exceeded the limit the garage was allowed to store.
