Hong Kong woman, 81, killed in fire following suspected gas canister explosion at residential tower in Kowloon
- Deadly blaze broke out in a 32nd-floor flat in Sau Mau Ping Estate, Kowloon East at around 12.30pm on Tuesday
- Dozens of residents were forced to flee, or were led to safety, as dense smoke billowed out of the flat
An elderly disabled woman was killed in a fire at her home in a Hong Kong tower block on Tuesday following a suspected gas canister explosion.
The blaze broke out at a 32nd-floor flat of Sau Wo House in Sau Mau Ping Estate, Kowloon East, at about 12.30pm.
Dense smoke billowed from the flat, spreading to the public corridor and lift lobby, according to police, forcing neighbouring residents to flee the building.
Twelve fire engines and two ambulances were deployed to the public housing estate after the emergency services were called at 12.38pm.
About 30 residents had fled the building before the arrival of emergency personnel, and firefighters led another 10 people to safety.
“Firefighters had to break through the door to enter the flat. Inside the unit, the injured woman was found in the living room near the door,” a Fire Services Department spokesman said, adding that the victim was certified dead at the scene.
An initial investigation showed there was incense burning inside the flat at the time of the incident, according to a police source.
“It was possible that burning incense set alight sundries and caused a gas canister to explode before the flat went up in flames,” the source said.
He said the victim was an 81-year-old woman who lived alone in the flat and had difficulty walking due to a disability.
Firefighters fought the blaze with a water jet and managed to douse the flames soon after 1pm.
The police source said the investigation had so far found nothing suspicious about the cause of the fire.
According to the Fire Services Department, a special working group has been set up to investigate the cause.
