Sai Ying Pun High-Rise Fire Kills Elderly Man; 60 Residents Evacuate
On.cc · 9 SOURCESabout 24 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A fire broke out in a residential unit at Hang Fai Building on Pokfulam Road in Sai Ying Pun on Monday evening, October 19. Firefighters deployed one hose line and a smoke hood team to combat the blaze, which was extinguished around 10 PM. A male resident aged around 70 was rescued in a coma from the affected unit but was pronounced dead at Queen Mary Hospital at 10:40 PM. Approximately 60 residents self-evacuated to safety during the incident, and traffic disruptions affected multiple bus routes along Pokfulam Road.
Key Points
- The fire originated on a middle floor unit of Hang Fai Building located at Pokfulam Road 22-32, with the emergency call received at 8:57 PM on October 19 .
- The Hong Kong Fire Services Department responded with one fire engine, one hose line, and one smoke hood team, successfully extinguishing the blaze by approximately 9:54 PM .
- A man aged approximately 70 was found unconscious inside the unit, suspected of having inhaled toxic smoke. He was transported by ambulance to Queen Mary Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:40 PM .
- Around 60 residents self-evacuated from the building during the fire, with many gathering on the ground floor. One resident, Ms. Ho, described running downstairs in a panic after smelling burning and hearing the fire alarm .
- Pokfulam Road between Third Street and Queen's Road West was fully closed in both directions during the fire, causing significant traffic congestion. Citybus routes 4, 7, 37A, 90B, and 91 were diverted, and single-lane two-way traffic was implemented near Second Street .
Why It Matters
This fatal fire underscores the critical importance of functioning smoke detection systems and clear evacuation procedures in aging residential buildings across Hong Kong. The Transport Department's road closure along this busy corridor disrupted Monday evening commute patterns and affected multiple bus routes, highlighting the cascading impact of building emergencies on citywide transportation networks . The incident also serves as a reminder of the fire risks associated with kitchen areas, as initial reports suggest the fire may have started in the kitchen of a unit in Block B .
This fatal fire underscores the critical importance of functioning smoke detection systems and clear evacuation procedures in aging residential buildings across Hong Kong. The Transport Department's road closure along this busy corridor disrupted Monday evening commute patterns and affected multiple bus routes, highlighting the cascading impact of building emergencies on citywide transportation networks . The incident also serves as a reminder of the fire risks associated with kitchen areas, as initial reports suggest the fire may have started in the kitchen of a unit in Block B .