Extra doctors called in for emergency

Casualties were taken to six hospitals. The Taiwanese man who died is believed to have been killed by the crash, not the fire.

Dr York Chow Yat-ngok, chief executive of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei said: 'We admitted 17 patients, one of whom died on arrival. We don't know the exact cause but it was most likely from serious concussion rather than burns.

'Another [patient] is in serious condition, suffering from minor burns and serious concussion.

'Fifteen others are in stable condition, the majority suffering from burns.' Authorities called in 40 extra doctors, 85 nurses, 70 support staff and 18 social workers.