Shek Kwu Chau incinerator fire prompts mass evacuation
HK01 · 9 SOURCES40 minutes ago2 MIN
Summary
A grade-three fire broke out on Monday afternoon at Phase 1 of the integrated waste management facilities on the artificial island beside Shek Kwu Chau. Firefighters deployed hoses and breathing apparatus teams, while no injuries were reported and workers were evacuated from the site by boat.
Key Points
- Police received a report from staff at 12:43pm on Monday about a fire at Phase 1 of the integrated waste management facilities beside Shek Kwu Chau.
- The Fire Services Department upgraded the blaze to a grade-three fire at 1:24pm, though one report said it was around 1:30pm.
- Firefighters deployed two jets and two breathing apparatus teams, with four ambulances sent to stand by at the scene during the operation.
- Video and photos showed flames and heavy smoke rising from a building, while workers were first moved to safe areas before wider evacuation.
- Reports differed on the scale of the evacuation, ranging from more than 100 workers on site to over 800 or about 900 leaving by boat for Cheung Chau and Tsuen Wan West Pier.
Why It Matters
The incident involves I·PARK1, a HK$18 billion waste-to-energy project on an artificial island southwest of Shek Kwu Chau. Sources said its first incineration module began trial operation last December, and when fully commissioned the facility is intended to process about 3,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste a day and export about 480 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year to the public grid.