Firefighters enter Hong Kong construction site to fight No 4 alarm blaze which has burned for over 24 hours

“We still need to make a detailed risk assessment before we can estimate when the fire will be put out,” he added.

Two tower cranes at the site, measuring 60 metres and 70 metres tall, were not at an immediate risk of collapsing, Mary Chan Yuen-ming, chief officer of the Buildings Department, said the same day.

The assessment was based on their bottom support structures as well as the temperatures at the location, she said, adding that the department would conduct more checks later to determine when construction work could resume.

Wong said the department had sent 129 fire engines, 10 ambulances and more than 390 firefighters to fight the blaze as of 10am on Wednesday.

Emergency personnel were first alerted of the fire along Hung Nga Road at 1.10pm on Tuesday.

It was upgraded to a No 3 alarm fire at 2.44pm and again at 9.31pm on Tuesday to a No 4 alarm.

Fires are rated on a scale of one to five according to their seriousness in Hong Kong.

Wong said all of the 150 workers fled from the site after the fire started, and no casualties were reported.

He said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

Wong added that putting out the fire was challenging because of the large area of the site measuring 70 metres by 80 metres and the high temperatures of up to more than 500 degrees Celsius.

There were also oxyacetylene cylinders and building materials which intensified the flames, he said.

Blaze at Hong Kong construction site leaves 2 tower cranes at risk of collapsing

The authorities on Tuesday said that explosions had occurred in the basement, possibly due to the oxyacetylene cylinders on site.

Nearby residents were advised to close their doors and windows and stay calm.

Plumes of thick, white smoke still came out from the construction site at about 10am on Wednesday.

Housewife Yeung Wan-saa, 39, who lives on the 14 floor of Hung Foon House of the nearby Hung Fuk Estate, said an abnormal smell lingered at her home although she shut the windows and doors.

“At first, it smelled like something burned. Then it turned into a pungent and unpleasant smell,” she said, adding that she had to turn on an air purifier hoping that the smoke would not affect her three-year-old child’s health.

Chan Lan, 47, who also lives in the public housing estate, said it was her first time witnessing such a big fire. As her flat was not facing the fire, she said the smoke indoors was manageable after she closed the windows.

“I am not that worried because I see many fire trucks and firefighters coming. I believe they are doing their jobs,” she said.

Fire at Hong Kong’s New Lucky House kills at least 5, injures 35

Construction worker Chan Wai-kit, 70, said he was at his office in the building next to the fire. At about 5pm on Tuesday, he and his colleagues were asked by firefighters to leave the building.

He said he arrived at the scene at about 8am on Wednesday, hoping to get back to work but found the building was closed off.

“We are still waiting for our manager to give further arrangements,” he said.

The site is for a Housing Society dedicated rehousing estate at Phase 2 of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area. The scheme was expected to be completed in 2026, providing 962 subsidised flats for sale.

A society spokeswoman earlier said the fire broke out in the basement of the site, and the contractor promptly evacuated all the workers. The society was helping relevant government departments in their investigation and follow-up actions.

The Post has learned that the contractor is Paul Y. Engineering.