Fire alarm on some floors shut down due to renovation, authorities reveal after blaze grips Hong Kong’s World Trade Centre, trapping hundreds on rooftop
- Flames at World Trade Centre in Causeway Bay broke out at about 12.30pm in an electrical switch room, before spreading to scaffolding
- Smoke inhalation among injuries, as renovation worker describes part of the building as ‘like a maze inside’
The fire alarm systems on some floors in a Hong Kong skyscraper were shut down because of major renovation works, authorities revealed in the aftermath of a blaze in the building that trapped hundreds of occupants on its rooftop, with rescuers later evacuating 1,269 people.
The fire at the 40-storey World Trade Centre on Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, broke out during the lunchtime rush and forced many to seek safety on the rooftop.
Viral videos also showed dozens of people, including the elderly, waiting for evacuation at an open-air area on the fifth floor. According to the Information Services Department, the flames were mostly put out by 4.30pm.
Thirteen people aged 25 to 82, comprising a man and 12 women, complained of feeling unwell, with 10 of them inhaling heavy smoke and three suffering sprains.
At an evening press conference, Ng Yau-sheung, senior divisional officer from the Fire Services Department, said: “One of the biggest difficulties we encountered was that the floor area of the building was large and we received multiple calls for help ... That’s why we upgraded the fire to level three.”
