Blaze at Hong Kong construction site upgraded; 2 tower cranes at risk of collapsing
- Emergency crews called to Tin Shui Wai site around 1.20pm with fire upgraded at 9.31pm; temperature at blaze scene near 500 degrees Celsius, official says
- About 150 workers fled the site soon after the fire started
Two tower cranes are at risk of collapsing at a Hong Kong construction site where a fierce blaze has been burning since early afternoon.
About 150 workers fled the site on Hung Nga Road in Tin Shui Wai soon after the blaze started around 1.20pm on Tuesday. No casualties have been reported.
It was upgraded to a No 3 alarm fire at 2.44pm and then again at 9.31pm to a No 4 alarm. In Hong Kong, fires are rated on a scale of one to five according to their seriousness.
Fire services acting divisional officer Hui Kwong-ho said the site was large, measuring 70 metres by 80 metres, and contained a significant quantity of construction materials, which along with very high temperatures posed extra challenges for firefighters.
The temperature at the fire was nearly 500 degrees Celsius, he said.
There was also a large number of oxyacetylene cylinders, which increased the intensity of the flames and prompted the deployment of a firefighting robot to minimise the risks faced by personnel, Hui said.
The department had also dispatched drones to conduct high-altitude fire inspections.
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Currently, firefighters can only spray water from the periphery.
The cause of the fire was still under investigation, Hui said.
Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung Yan-kin visited the scene on Tuesday night. Asked about the possibility of further upgrading the blaze to a No 5 alarm – the highest – he said the current level was sufficient.
Yeung said firefighters had not yet reached the basement, which remained inaccessible. He added that the tower cranes would be closely monitored.
He reported that explosions had occurred in the basement earlier in the day, possibly due to the oxyacetylene cylinders on site.
Earlier, police said the fire might have started when workers used a machine to cut metal on the ground floor, with sparks allegedly igniting construction materials.
Hui said two 50-metre-tall tower cranes were at risk of collapsing, but there was no immediate danger.
“The Fire Services Department and other departments will continuously assess the latest conditions of the cranes and take relevant measures if necessary,” he said.
And he estimated their efforts would need to be sustained for a period of time.
As of 7.30pm, 266 firefighters and 11 paramedics had been mobilised, along with seven water jets, two breathing apparatus teams, 51 trucks and four ambulances.
Nearby residents were advised to close their doors and windows and stay calm.
The site is for a Housing Society dedicated rehousing estate at Phase 2 of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area. The scheme was expected to be completed in 2026, providing 962 subsidised flats for sale.
A society spokeswoman said the fire broke out in the basement of the site, and the contractor promptly evacuated all the workers. The society was helping relevant government departments in their investigation and follow-up actions.
The Post has learned that the contractor is Paul Y. Engineering.
