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Letters | Hong Kong typhoon shelter blaze highlights need to fire up expansion plans
- City needs a strategy for expansion of Hong Kong’s typhoon shelter capacity, and to make sure each shelter is well-equipped to deal with fire safety
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The spectacular night of fires at Aberdeen Harbour early last Sunday morning has been reported in the media around the world (“Fresh calls to fix marina problems as blaze sinks 20 boats, damages dozen”, June 27).
Vessels ablaze incidents occur regrettably regularly in Hong Kong. Another vessel burned early on June 18 off the Eastern Channel in Tseung Kwan O. Ten vessels were lost in 2015, one in 2016, and another six were damaged in 2019 at Shau Kei Wan. In 2018, seven boats were lost at Clear Water Bay marina. In 2020, three were damaged in Kwun Tong and one in Aberdeen.
The latest fire impacting small vessels started in the early morning. Apparently a late-night BBQ party had gone awry. Reportedly more than 30 vessels were impacted and 20 sank. The fires which started around 2am were only considered under control around 9am.
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While some are quick to focus on live-aboard concerns, questions must be raised as to why so many vessels were impacted, and why it took around seven hours to bring the situation under control.
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Massive fire in Hong Kong’s Aberdeen typhoon shelter damages more than 30 boats
Massive fire in Hong Kong’s Aberdeen typhoon shelter damages more than 30 boats
Boat fires are different from fires onshore. Wooden and glass-reinforced plastic boats burn well and they have petrol and cooking gas on board.
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