Dozens of residents evacuated as fire at takeaway food shop sends smoke billowing into downtown Hong Kong street
- Fire is suspected to have started at stove inside shop at 365 Hennessy Road in Wan Chai
- Man and woman reported feeling unwell after inhaling smoke and were treated by paramedics at scene
Two people were left feeling unwell after a fire broke out at a food takeaway shop and sent dense smoke billowing into the streets in Hong Kong on Saturday afternoon, forcing dozens of residents to evacuate.
The fire began at 3.12pm at 365 Hennessy Road in Wan Chai and spewed out thick smoke that engulfed nearby buildings, according to images posted online.
A man and woman reported feeling unwell after inhaling smoke and they were treated by paramedics at the scene. About 40 people in the area were evacuated and parts of nearby roads were temporarily closed.
Officers suspected the fire started at a stove inside the takeaway food store. Sa Hui, a staff member at dried seafood store Yan Yue Tong, which was on the opposite side of the road, said she saw flames emerging from the restaurant and smoke blanketing the entire street.
“I can smell the pungent smoke even across the street,” she said. “The smoke made me feel a bit uncomfortable, so I immediately put on two masks.”
An employee working at a store that sold safes and which was next to the gutted shop said he immediately closed the front shutter and ran to the other side of the street after seeing the heavy smoke outside.
Other nearby shops also closed shortly after the fire broke out, according to the man, who did want to give his name.