Yau Tong cold storage warehouse fire leaves one worker dead, two injured

A fatal fire broke out Monday afternoon at a cold storage warehouse in Yau Tong, leaving one worker dead and two injured.

The fire broke out at the to-be-demolished warehouse on Tung Yuen Street at 1.51pm.

The three were among five workers working at basement of the building. Two managed to escape unhurt. 

Assistant divisional officer Wong Ping-kuen said the Fire Services Department arrived at the scene three minutes after the fire report and three breathing apparatus teams were deployed to put out the fire. 

In the basement, officers found workers Liu, 47, and Lam, 65, unconscious amid a pile of miscellaneous stuff including styrofoam in the corner on fire. 

The third worker, Tsang, 65, was rescued on the staircase between the third and fourth floors, after feeling sick from smoke inhalation. He was conscious when sent to the hospital.

All three were rushed to the United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong, but Liu was later certified dead. Tsang remains in a serious condition while Lam is in critical condition.

Wong said it was “slightly difficult” to carry out the rescue operation as sundries including insulation materials and styrofoam were scattered around the warehouse.

“Insulation materials and styrofoam will produce a large amount of thick smoke and toxic gases during fire, which add some difficulties to our rescue work,” he said. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Tang Chi-shing, inspector of district investigation team 4 of Kwun Tong district, said the force will look into whether there are any criminal elements or human error involved in the accident.

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