Hong Kong witnesses one of city’s deadliest blazes in years. The Post shares basics for escaping a burning building
- Fire at New Lucky House left five dead, including one suspected of jumping from 16-storey building in bid to escape blaze
- Knowing your exits and staying calm is key to getting out of a burning building, but decision to hunker down means assessing risks and keeping smoke out
Hong Kong has witnessed one of its deadliest fires in recent years after five people died and another 43 were injured when a blaze broke out at a 60-year-old building on Wednesday.
Firefighters rushed to the scene at New Lucky House in Yau Ma Tei once reports started coming in at 7.53am.
Confused tenants at the residential and commercial building later recalled waking up to thick smoke that made it hard to see or even breathe, while others said they never heard any fire alarms go off.
Meanwhile, authorities have said one of the five fatalities is suspected to have jumped off the 16-storey building in a bid to escape the blaze and was found on the first-floor podium.
The Post explores what lessons can be learned from the tragedy and how you can escape from a burning building.
What are the basics?
Preparation is essential. Familiarise yourself with your building’s exits and escape routes. Make sure stairways and passages are not blocked off or sealed.