Fire safety violations still rampant in Hong Kong buildings, official checks find in wake of deadly blaze
- Authorities issue 600 warnings about blocked escape routes and open fire doors after inspecting over 200 buildings following blaze that killed five in Jordan last month
- Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung says investigation into tragedy at New Lucky House revealed some fire doors had been wedged open, allowing smoke to rise up staircases
Hong Kong authorities have issued about 600 warnings over blocked escape routes and open fire doors after inspecting more than 200 buildings following last month’s deadly blaze at a Jordan building where officers found similar problems had accelerated the spread of smoke.
Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung Yan-kin said on Sunday the investigation into the tragedy at New Lucky House revealed that some of the fire doors had been wedged open.
“As a result, thick smoke might have risen along the stairs,” he said. “People might have inhaled the smoke and then fainted or even died.”
Five people died and 43 others were injured in the blaze that broke out at the 60-year-old building. A large number of plastic boxes and wires found at the scene were linked to the spread of the flames and the significant volume of smoke generated.
The fire was brought under control in about 90 minutes.
Yeung advised that in the event of a fire residents should return to their flats if they encountered smoke along their escape routes, as inhaling carbon monoxide for even one or two minutes could lead to loss of consciousness.
