Tin Shui Wai – A raging fire broke out at a construction site in the Hung Shui Kiu area of Hong Kong’s Tin Shui Wai district on Tuesday afternoon, prompting the evacuation of over 150 workers as firefighters battled the intense blaze.
The alarm was first raised around 1:20 pm local time when thick plumes of black smoke began billowing into the air from the worksite where a subsidized housing project is being built. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as workers scrambled to evacuate the premises.
The Fire Services Department quickly escalated the emergency to a No. 3 alarm, deploying 262 firefighters, specialized equipment including drones and robots, and seven high-powered water jets to combat the inferno.
“The fire ground temperature is reaching nearly 500 degrees Celsius due to large piles of building materials fueling the blaze,” said Fire Services spokesman Donald Tam. “Coupled with the intense smoke, it has made firefighting operations extremely challenging.”
Two breathing apparatus teams were mobilized to lead the interior attack on the fire, which had engulfed an area approximately 70 by 80 meters in size by mid-afternoon. Authorities confirmed all 152 workers were safely evacuated with no reports of injuries so far.
Two large 50-meter tower cranes at the site were determined to be structurally unsafe by inspectors due to the extreme heat but did not pose an imminent collapse risk.
The fire’s cause remains under investigation, but sources indicate it may have started accidentally while workers were cutting steel. The Hong Kong Housing Society said the affected site is part of its phase two development for the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen Dedicated Rehousing Estate that aims to provide 962 subsidized flats by 2026.
As firefighters continued battling the stubborn blaze late into the evening, nearby residents were warned to avoid the area and keep windows closed due to the heavy smoke. Authorities cautioned that extinguishing the fire completely could take several more hours given the intense heat and combustible materials involved.
