Sai Kung Fish Raft Fire Injures Man, Destroys Multiple Boats
SingTao · 5 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago4 MIN
Summary
A fire erupted at fish rafts in Sai Kung's Pu Dong Ao (布袋澳) district on August 12 morning, with multiple residents reporting hearing explosion sounds . A man in his 60s who attempted to extinguish the blaze suffered a finger injury and received on-site treatment before declining hospitalization . Fire services responded with two water hoses and two smoke helmet teams, deploying a fire boat to spray water on the burning rafts from the sea . The fire was brought under control after approximately 50 minutes, by 9:22 AM .
Key Points
- Fire broke out at fish rafts No. 1 and No. 2 near the Pu Dong Ao minibus stop at 8:33 AM on August 12
- Two explosions occurred when a fishing boat's stern was charging an object using a rectifier, triggering the blaze
- The fish raft owner sustained a finger cut while using a fire extinguisher to combat the flames
- Fire crews extinguished the blaze by 9:22 AM, with the original boat and raft sinking, and 6-8 fiber speedboats destroyed
- Village headman Mr. Lau described seeing thick white smoke initially, followed by intense flames and black smoke driven by strong winds
Why It Matters
The incident highlights fire safety risks associated with charging operations on vessels in Hong Kong's traditional fishing and fish-farming communities . While no serious injuries were reported, the rapid spread of fire to multiple boats underscores the vulnerability of densely-packed boat populations in sheltered bays, raising questions about emergency response protocols in these coastal areas .
The incident highlights fire safety risks associated with charging operations on vessels in Hong Kong's traditional fishing and fish-farming communities . While no serious injuries were reported, the rapid spread of fire to multiple boats underscores the vulnerability of densely-packed boat populations in sheltered bays, raising questions about emergency response protocols in these coastal areas .