Two killed in Tai Po blaze with suspicious explosion

A woman and her son died in a blaze at Sun Hing Garden in Tai Po in the early hours of Sunday, as police said they found an explosion there suspicious. 

Police received a report that a fire broke out in a flat at Hong Shing Court of Sun Hing Garden at about 3.39 am on Sunday.

A 31-year-old man was suspected to have fallen from his room during the fire and was certified dead after the rescuers arrived. 

Another 62-year-old woman, who was the man's mother, was found unconscious in the flat and certified dead after being sent to the hospital.

The Fire Services Department said the man’s room was badly burned and the window frames fell off. His mother was found in another room with blackened face and second-degree burns on her left hand.

The department said according to the fire was deemed to be suspicious based on initial investigations.

Police said an explosion was heard from the unit but they did not find any accelerant, compressed gas or electrical appliances that may cause the fire.

They found the explosion suspicious, and are still investigating how it was triggered. 

Some 300 residents evacuated on their own amid the fire.

A resident surnamed Lau said she was awakened by smoke in her sleep and initially thought it was fog: "But there was a burning smell, and then the whole flat was filled with smoke and the temperature rose. 

Her husband looked downstairs and saw a fire, so the family immediately evacuated.

She continued that crowds appeared when they walked downstairs as there was an elderly woman walking slowly there. Her husband and some neighbors then helped carry the granny downstairs together.

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