http://hongkong.coconuts.co/2016/06/20/cigarette-butts-suspected-have-caused-massive-fire-wan-chai
The fire as seen from afar. Photo: Camille Schoeb
Improperly stubbed out cigarette butts are suspected to have caused a three-and-a-half hour fire in Wan Chai yesterday.
At around 4pm, the scaffolding of a hotel construction site at 373 Queen’s Road East caught fire. According to Oriental Daily, 30 pedestrians were evacuated from the area.
Two fire hoses and two breathing apparatus teams were deployed to put out the blaze and save the eight labourers who were on site.
One worker, a 37-year-old man surnamed Lee, was sent to hospital for smoke inhalation.
Parts of Queen’s Road East, Wong Nai Chung Road and Stubbs Road were closed until the fire was put out at 7:26pm.
Apple Daily reports that poorly stubbed out cigarette butts are suspected to have burned a rubber hose and cardboard. The flames are then believed to have spread to the scaffolding.
A hotel is being built at the site. Construction began in September 2015 and was scheduled to finish in September this year.