CLP Power Voltage Drop Disrupts Hong Kong; 178 Trapped in Elevators Rescued
HK01 · 8 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
CLP Power recorded a brief voltage drop on a 400kV transmission line connecting Lai Chi Kok to Tsz Wan Shan at approximately 1:09 PM on Tuesday, causing widespread disruption across Kowloon and the New Territories. The Fire Services Department received 178 reports of people trapped in elevators and 39 fire alarm activations within a 20-minute window. Emergency crews responded swiftly to rescue those affected, while CLP confirmed power supply was not interrupted and pledged to investigate the incident.
Key Points
- CLP's 400kV line between Lai Chi Kok and Tsz Wan Shan recorded a brief voltage drop at 1:09 PM, though full power supply was maintained
- The Fire Services Department received 178 trapped-in-elevator reports and 39 fire alarm activations between 1:10 PM and 1:30 PM across multiple districts
- Affected districts included Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan, Sheung Shui, Tsim Sha Tsui, Tsing Yi, and Tseung Kwan O
- A shopping mall in Tsing Yi experienced partial power outages, while a mall in Tseung Kwan O saw escalators suddenly stop operating
- Two women were trapped in an elevator at On Ning Building (百安大廈) on Austin Road in Tsim Sha Tsui for approximately 20 minutes before firefighters rescued them safely
- Social media users reported flickering lights and one escalator passenger reported injuring their knee when the equipment stopped suddenly
- CLP stated that sensitive electrical equipment may activate protective devices during voltage fluctuations, causing temporary shutdowns
Why It Matters
This incident exposed potential vulnerabilities in Hong Kong's power infrastructure, as even a brief voltage fluctuation without actual power loss was sufficient to trigger protective mechanisms across hundreds of elevators citywide. The rapid response by emergency services prevented injuries, though the widespread disruption across multiple commercial and residential areas underscores the need for CLP to investigate and address the root cause of the voltage drop to prevent future occurrences .
This incident exposed potential vulnerabilities in Hong Kong's power infrastructure, as even a brief voltage fluctuation without actual power loss was sufficient to trigger protective mechanisms across hundreds of elevators citywide. The rapid response by emergency services prevented injuries, though the widespread disruption across multiple commercial and residential areas underscores the need for CLP to investigate and address the root cause of the voltage drop to prevent future occurrences .