Five dead, 40 injured in Jordan fire

At least five people are dead and 40 injured after a fire at a residential building in Jordan on Wednesday morning.

The fire broke out at the building New Lucky House at around 8 am, with the fire raised to a number three alarm shortly after firefighters arrived.

It is understood that the fire started at a gym on the first floor of the building and was brought under control an hour and a half later.

Residents of the building were seen waving towels at the windows signaling for help as firefighters battle the blaze. Sources said a man had fallen from a height.

One resident living on the fifth floor said the hallway was already filled with smoke when he noticed the fire, and he could not see the exit sign. 

Another resident, Darrin, told reporters that he'd climbed out of his window to be rescued, but then decided against waiting and headed for the stairwell instead.

"People were screaming, somebody was on the ground in the hall," he said.

"It got so much smoke in my room, I said I wasn't going to make it in there... I kept going and I finally got to the other side of the building and the stairwell, and I came down."

All lanes of the Hung Hom-bound Jordan Road were sealed off by the Transport Department, while the MTR closed Exit B1 at Jordan Station, which is next to the building.

In a statement, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he's highly concerned about the incident.

Lee said he instructed the Hospital Authority to do its best to treat the injured, and the police and Fire Services Department to investigate the cause of the deadly blaze.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said help has been offered to those affected by various government departments.

District care team members and district officers were mobilized at community centers there, while the Social Welfare Department will send its officers there to help, said Chan.

The government announced that the Yau Tsim Mong District Office has set up interdepartmental help desks for those in need.

(Updated 2.13 pm)

Read More: 
Dozen lives saved as off-duty CAS officer and construction workers aid in Jordan fire rescue
One of the victims falls to death in Jordan tragic fire: FSD

+2