Three people, including a 6-year-old boy, were killed and one was injured when a fatal blaze — believed to have been caused by short circuit in a fan — broke out late on Thursday night in an apartment at Kin Wong Mansion in Mong Kok.
Firefighters rescued a 75-year-old woman from the balcony using a hydraulic platform. Inside the 300-square-foot apartment, they found three unconscious males — an 80-year-old man in the kitchen, and a 53-year-old man and a 6-year-old boy near the bathroom. All three were later pronounced dead at Kwong Wah Hospital. Two cats were also found dead in the unit.
The fire, which is thought to have been started by a faulty air conditioner in the family’s residence on the third floor, was reported to the authorities at 11:13 pm on Thursday.
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According to police and the Fire Services Department, initial investigations suggest that a short circuit in an electric fan inside the unit may have caused the fire. An active investigation by the District Crime Squad of Mong Kok District Team 2 is underway.
“We received multiple reports about the fire and arrived at the scene within four minutes,” said an officer from the Fire Services Department. A total of 86 personnel, 14 fire engines and 11 ambulances — including one mobile casualty treatment center, one paramedic equipment tender, one emergency medical assistant motorcycle, and one stretcher transport vehicle — were deployed to tackle this incident.
In total, 48 residents were evacuated, and nearby roads were closed for emergency operations. The incident caused significant disruption to building services. The power supply to public areas and the elevators in the building was cut off while emergency firefighting operations were in progress.
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A resident living directly opposite the flat where the fire occurred recalled the harrowing moments when smoke began to seep into her home. “I smelled something burning and then saw white smoke coming in through the door gap. The smoke was so dense that I couldn’t escape immediately and had to stay inside,” she said. “Even this morning, there was still a strong smell of smoke, so I decided to temporarily move out.” She also said that, while the building’s fire alarm system is regularly tested, she did not hear the alarm during the incident. “I’m not sure why the alarm didn’t sound,” she added.
Huang Yawen contributed to the story.
