Hong Kong issues 5,000 fire safety warnings after 700 old buildings checked following deadly blaze
- Blaze in 60-year-old New Lucky House in Yau Ma Tei killed five people and injured 43 others in April
Hong Kong authorities have issued more than 5,000 fire safety warnings after inspecting around 700 high-risk old buildings that were identified after a deadly blaze broke out in an ageing residential and commercial block in April.
The Fire Services Department has enhanced its enforcement actions by inspecting old-style composite buildings since May and had issued over 5,000 fire hazard abatement notices as of July, with 32 per cent of the warnings involving smoke doors not being properly closed.
“Most of the warnings are related to human factors including wedged open smoke doors and blocked escape routes, which can all be avoided,” Yung Kam-hung, deputy chief fire officer in building improvement, said on Thursday.
Broken smoke doors accounted for the second-highest number of notices, at 28 per cent.
“Everyone can help to improve the fire safety of buildings by keeping smoke doors closed,” Yung added.
The blaze in the 60-year-old New Lucky House in Yau Ma Tei, a densely populated area, killed five people and injured 43 others in April.