Probe into storage of dangerous goods after explosions and huge blaze at Hong Kong recycling plant
140 firefighters and paramedics were called to the Yuen Long site at 1pm yesterday. They faced explosions and saw smoke billowing several storeys into the air.
Firefighters are investigating whether excess quantities of dangerous goods were stored illegally at a Yuen Long recycling plant after a four-hour battle to put out a blaze yesterday afternoon.
Some 140 firefighters and paramedics on 25 fire engines were called to the site at about 1pm yesterday, using 80 jets and eight sets of breathing apparatus. They faced explosions and saw smoke billowing several storeys into the air.
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“We suspect an excessive amount of category three and five dangerous goods were stored…and probably without a licence,” said Ng Tze-yuen, the Fire Services Department’s divisional commander for New Territories West.
Under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, category three materials are corrosive substances, while substances that give off inflammable vapours are in category five.
The site of the fire – a 50 metre by 70 metre area with four adjacent recycling plants which mainly handle electronic waste – was surrounded by firefighters. The blaze was brought under control at around 3.45pm, and later declared “largely put out” at 5.10pm, Ng said.
The fact that the site was 600 to 800 metres away from the nearest source of water also added to the difficulty, he said, adding that firefighters needed to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby residential areas.