Fire Erupts at Sham Shui Po Food Court Stall, Female Owner Injured
Thestandard · 5 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A fire broke out at a food stall in the Dragon Centre food court on Commendate Street in Sham Shui Po on Monday evening, November 9, 2026. The 55-year-old female owner suffered burns to her fingers after a stove caught fire, possibly due to being left on after cooking. Bystanders were criticized online for staying to film the incident instead of evacuating, with netizens warning that the tightly packed stalls posed a serious safety risk.
Key Points
- Fire broke out around 8:30 pm at a Chaoshan cuisine stall on the 8th floor of the Dragon Centre food court
- The 55-year-old female owner sustained burns to her fingers and was taken to Caritas Medical Centre for treatment
- Initial investigation suggests the blaze was caused by an overheated stove or one left running after cooking
- Members of the public managed to extinguish the fire before firefighters arrived at the scene
- Netizens criticized bystanders for remaining to watch and film the incident rather than evacuating, calling it "zero safety awareness"
Why It Matters
The incident has sparked a citywide discussion about public safety awareness in Hong Kong's crowded dining establishments. Critics argue that the instinct to film emergencies rather than evacuate puts lives at risk, particularly in compact food courts where exits may be limited . This incident follows a broader pattern of fire safety concerns in aging commercial buildings across the territory.
The incident has sparked a citywide discussion about public safety awareness in Hong Kong's crowded dining establishments. Critics argue that the instinct to film emergencies rather than evacuate puts lives at risk, particularly in compact food courts where exits may be limited . This incident follows a broader pattern of fire safety concerns in aging commercial buildings across the territory.