Some police involved in the rescue and investigation of the Nathan Road fire are suffering " flashbacks" and are reluctant to return to the scene, the force's psychologist said yesterday.

The officers are among dozens who joined a " critical incident stress debriefing" which started last week and was held for a fourth group of officers yesterday.

Participants included uniformed officers, detectives and the Disaster Victims' Identification Unit members who collected bodies from the building after the fire two weeks ago which killed 40 people.

The hour-long debriefing allows officers to talk about their psychological reactions and emotions after the Garley Building fire.

Senior police clinical psychologist Eddie Li Kam-wah said: " Reactions of the officers included having flashbacks and difficulties in getting to sleep at night.

" Some said they have to close their windows before going to bed because they are worried a burning cigarette could blow into their flats and become a source of fire."

He said others would avoid going back to the scene or eating certain food, such as noodles with pigs' intestines, which could remind them of the traumatic experience. " We have told officers that they have to accept all these reactions as normal in light of the abnormality of the incident." Mr Li said.

" In some cases, the reaction could last for two to four weeks." He said a solution for these officers was to " talk it out" .

Superintendent Chan Chin-cheung, who led the unit collecting the bodies from the devastated building. said members had been under a lot of stress.

" They have seen a tragic scene. They also had to deal with the victims' families who wanted the identification done quickly while we had to take each step carefully," Mr Chan said.

A total of 229 officers have helped with identification of the bodies, marking the first full mobilisation of the unit in its 10-year history.

Stress counselling sessions for firemen have been conducted by their department which is finalising two reports on the fire for submission this week.

The reports look into the cause of the fire, factors leading to the heavy casualties and recommendations on preventing such disasters.

Buildings Department staff have reconstructed the interior structures of the building to help the investigation

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