430 people evacuated from Hong Kong hospital complex after scaffolding catches fire
Authorities still investigating cause of blaze at block, which houses elderly care centre, nursery, rehabilitation centre and other facilities
More than 400 people were evacuated from Yan Chai Hospital Multi-services Complex in Hong Kong on Friday as scaffolding on the block caught fire.
Emergency crews were called in at 12.28pm when flames broke out on part of the scaffolding outside the second and third floor of the building on Tak Wah Street in Tsuen Wan.
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A government spokeswoman said a total of 430 people were evacuated from the building. The block houses an elderly care centre, a nursery, a rehabilitation centre and other facilities.
A water jet was used to battle the blaze and the flames were extinguished at 1pm. No casualties were reported.
The Fire Services Department classified the incident as a second-alarm fire on a rating system of one to five according to severity, with five being the most serious.
“An initial investigation showed a cigarette butt was suspected to have caused the fire,” a police spokesman said, adding that the cause of the blaze was not suspicious.
