More than 10 containers were damaged in a fire that broke out in a container storage yard in Hong Kong’s Yau Ma Tei district on 14 October.
The fire, reportedly involving plastic materials, broke out around 5.06 pm local time and took 14 hours to be brought under control. No injuries were reported.
Hong Kong Fire Services Department said the fire involved about 10 containers in the Yau Ma Tei Public Cargo Working Area (PCWA). Firefighters had to use drones to help find the source of the fire and used multiple street wells to collect water. Fire boats were also mobilised to pump seawater directly to put out the fire.
Fire-fighting cranes were used to move the burning containers to the ground one by one, and then opened and inspected to extinguish sparks.
The fire later spread to a barge, covering an area of 20 metres by 20 metres. The fire alarm was raised to Level 3 at 6 pm, and additional fire extinguishers and water cannons were sent to the scene.
At 3.11 am local time on 15 October, the fire was declared to be under control.
Flames and black smoke were soaring into the sky, prompting the fire services department to appeal to nearby residents to close their doors and windows.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
