Massive Fire Engulfs Hong Kong Construction Site
HONG KONG: A construction site for a Hong Kong high-rise building went up in flames late Thursday, with firefighters on site battling the blaze, city officials said.
Officials said the fire broke out at 11:11 p.m. in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, a busy shopping and tourist district on the city’s harbor.
No casualties were reported early Friday, according to the government.
Flames were first seen near the scaffolding at the top of the building, with the fire clearly visible across the harbor and sending sparks raining into neighboring streets.
About an hour later, the fire had spread the length of the building and was approaching street level, where hundreds of onlookers had gathered.
Large pieces of debris – apparently from the site – could be seen on the ground and a pungent smell permeated the air, an AFP reporter at the scene said.
The building under construction was a 42-story “port icon” that was slated to house a historic sailors’ club and a new hotel, according to its developer Empire Group’s website.
The HK$6 billion (US$764 million) redevelopment project was given the green light in 2019 and was initially expected to be completed in the first half of 2023, according to local media.
