A three-alarm fire broke out at Chinachem Tower, located at 34-47 Connaught Road Central, yesterday afternoon (Oct. 18), injuring four individuals—three men and one woman aged between 23 and 65. According to the Government News Service in the early hours of today (Oct. 19), a 23-year-old man surnamed Ngai and a 55-year-old man surnamed Lam are in critical condition, while a 65-year-old man surnamed Chung and a 35-year-old woman surnamed Yeung are in stable condition.
The Fire Services Department received the report at 4:24 pm and escalated the fire to a three-alarm level at 4:36 p.m. The blaze was largely extinguished by 9:13 pm.
Fire Services Department Deputy Divisional Commander Lo Shui-sang stated that firefighters arrived at the scene within four minutes of the call and found the building's external scaffolding, set up for renovation work, heavily engulfed. The fire spread rapidly along the scaffolding, with intense flames also affecting an adjacent building. After receiving public assistance requests, the fire was upgraded to a three-alarm fire within eight minutes of arrival. A total of 36 fire engines, 15 ambulances, and 184 fire and ambulance personnel were deployed, using four water jets and four breathing apparatus teams. Additionally, two steel ladder water towers were used for external cooling, and drones monitored the fire, which was mainly confined to the external walls with minimal spread to interior units. The fire was surrounded by 5:46 pm, brought under control around 7 pm, and fully extinguished at 9:13 pm.
Two assistance cases were reported. In the first, a man and two women were found on the 23rd floor; the man suffered abrasions and suspected breathing difficulties and was hospitalized. Separately, a man with suspected smoke inhalation and head injury was found on the staircase between the 3rd and 4th floors and taken to the hospital. In the second case, a woman in an adjacent building was safely escorted down, while a man trapped in an elevator was rescued. A total of 58 people evacuated to safety on their own. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Senior Ambulance Officer Yuen Ho-cheung reported that four injured individuals—three men and one woman—were treated at the scene. The man found between the 3rd and 4th floors sustained serious head injuries and smoke inhalation, while the other three had minor smoke inhalation issues. All were sent to Queen Mary Hospital after initial treatment.
Chief Inspector Lam Hong-hang stated that police assisted with evacuations and road closures, including sections of Des Voeux Road Central and Connaught Road Central. Roads have since been gradually reopened. In response to media inquiries, Lo Shui-sang mentioned that a joint investigation with the police is underway to determine if the fire is suspicious.
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