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Fourth-alarm blaze in Ngau Tau Kok industrial building. Photo: Edward Wong

Killer Ngau Tau Kok fire tamed after 80 hours

Residents pay tribute to the two firefighters who died while battling the blaze as security minister rejects concerns the building could collapse

The killer blaze that burned out of control for four days at an industrial building in a densely packed Hong Kong neighbourhood was finally tamed on Friday night, as the city’s security minister rejected ­concerns that the entire block could collapse.

The inferno at the Amoycan Industrial Centre in Ngau Tau Kok was brought under control at 7.38pm, more than 80 hours after it broke out on Tuesday, ­killing two firefighters over two days.

Thomas Cheung, 30, and Samuel Hui Chi-kit, 37, have been hailed as heroes, amid an outpouring of public support and sympathy. Two others were still in the hospital yesterday in a stable condition.

The fire started at the SC Storage facility on ­Tuesday, making it the longest running blaze in the city in more than 20 years.

Deputy chief fire officer Kong Ping-lam said teams of firefighters battling the smoke and flames had progressed to the third, fourth and fifth floors. The blaze did not spread beyond that. For the first time since the fire swept through the building on Tuesday, photos emerged on Friday of the interior of the mini-storage facility, showing the damage and reflecting the daunting challenges that ­remained as the battle was not over yet.

People write their condolences to firemen killed while tackling the blaze. Photo: Felix Wong

Rejecting speculation that the burning building might collapse and questions about risking firefighters’ lives, Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok ­appealed to the public for understanding and support for the marathon firefighting effort.

“I hope the public can understand that, if we let this industrial building keep burning and not do anything about it, it would be irresponsible. It would be hard to estimate the level of risk for the people living nearby, as well as their assets, if we simply let the fire spread,” Lai said.

“Our colleagues from the Buildings Department and the Fire Services Department have been monitoring the fire and the building’s structures around the clock. From the latest assessment, we think that there is no need for evacuation.”

Fourth-alarm blaze in Ngau Tau Kok industrial building. Photo: Dickson Lee

Lai made clear that halting the operation was not a way out after a group of structural and civil engineers warned earlier on Friday that the warehouse was in danger of collapsing.

Civil engineer Albert Lai Kwong-tak, convenor of the Professional Commons think tank, said a ­controlled collapse would minimise damage in the vicinity.

“There will be two scenarios, that the fire is put off before the building collapses, or it will collapse first. The latter is becoming more likely now,” the ­engineer said.

Greg Wong Chak-yan, former president of the ­Institution of Engineers, said it was difficult to assess the risk of collapse as experts could not enter the third floor yet. While the third-floor ceiling could collapse and affect other structures such as the floor, columns and walls, it was unlikely that the whole building would come down, he said.

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who signed a condolence book for victims at the Kwun Tong fire station also called for public trust. The structure of the building was “OK”, he said, as he paid tribute to the firefighters for their courage and sacrifice.

Fire Services Officers Association executive committee member Mak Kam-fai said if the firefighters had not been entering the building and breaking open hundreds of cubicles to see what was stored inside, the crisis would continue.

Beijing’s top representative in Hong Kong made his first public remarks about the emergency on Friday. Liaison office director Zhang Xiaoming said the central government had told the Leung administration that it was prepared to offer help, including ­supplying equipment, if necessary.

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