Police investigating cause of midnight blaze in Hong Kong residential block
- A first-floor flat in a six-storey building on Canton Road in Mong Kok burst into flames at 12.08am; firefighters spent more than two hours battling the blaze
- Police spokesman says some accelerant substances were found at the scene
Police are investigating the cause of a blaze that broke out in a Hong Kong residential block on Wednesday, sending a woman to hospital and forcing more than 30 to flee from their homes.
Emergency personnel were sent to the six-storey building on Canton Road in Mong Kok at 12.08am when a first-floor flat burst into flames. No one was inside the flat at the time, according to police.
Dense smoke billowed out from the burning flat, spreading to the staircases and forcing 32 tenants to flee the building.
According to the Fire Services Department, 12 fire engines and two ambulances were deployed to the scene.
“Firefighters had to break through the door to enter the flat and fight the blaze with two water jets,” its spokeswoman said.
She said the flat was packed with piles of sundry items and firefighters spent more than two hours battling the flames. A search was also carried out inside the flat to ensure no one was trapped.