Rust caused lift cable to snap, trapping five

Rust caused an incident at a Tai Po public housing estate last month that saw one of the four cables of a lift break, trapping five passengers.

It could have been avoided but for the negligence of lift company Fujitec, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department said.

A warning letter has been sent to Fujitec, which certified the lift to be safe in January.

The incident took place in November as the lift reached the seventh floor of Wan Lam House, Wan Tau Tong Estate.

The passengers were rescued by firemen.

One of the four suspension cables had broken, activating a safety device that stopped the lift.