Hong Kong police probe fatal flat fire, suspect woman’s smoking linked to blaze

Hong Kong police are investigating whether a fire that led to a woman’s death in her flat on Sunday morning is linked to her smoking.

Police said they had received a call around 7.43am from a security officer at Hoi Tat Estate in Cheung Sha Wan that smoke was emanating from one of the building’s units.

Firefighters were deployed to the scene to extinguish the blaze. They forced entry into the flat and found a 59-year-old resident, surnamed Chow, unconscious.

The woman was taken to Caritas Medical Centre in Sham Shui Po for treatment but was later pronounced dead.

According to local media reports, the woman lived alone and was a heavy smoker. She was reportedly found with burn marks on her face, and fire services staff found an ashtray and a large number of cigarettes in her flat.

The force said that the cause of the fire was still under investigation.