Worker dies after being buried alive at Hong Kong power plant
Suspected coal ash fell on victim, who was in his 50s, as he was cleaning giant dust pool
A worker died after being buried alive in three metres of what is suspected to be coal ash at a power plant on Tuesday.
The victim, a man in his 50s, was one of seven workers cleaning a giant dust pool at Castle Peak Power Station on Lung Yiu Street, Tuen Mun at about 11.30am.
“Initial information showed suspected coal ash fell into the container, and the male worker was buried,” a police source said.
Eighteen fire engines and four ambulances were dispatched, according to the Fire Services Department. A medical team including a doctor was also sent to the scene.
A department spokeswoman said the victim was extricated shortly before 1pm, but was certified dead at the scene.
Police are treating the case as an industrial accident, and the Labour Department has been notified.
According to the CLP Power, Castle Peak Power Station, built in the 1980s, is a coal-fired power plant owned by the Castle Peak Power Company, a joint venture between CLP Power Hong Kong and China Southern Power Grid International (HK) Co.