Fire breaks out on barge at Yaumatei typhoon shelter, second in six days

A fire broke out on a barge at the Yaumatei typhoon shelter early Friday, the second such incident involving scrap metal in six days.

The Fire Services Department received a report at 4.19am that a barge moored several dozen meters offshore at the New Yaumatei Public Cargo Working Area was on fire, with scrap metal materials burning and emitting thick smoke.

Firefighters responded with a "No 2 alarm vessel fire" designation, deploying multiple fire trucks and fireboats to tackle the blaze from land and sea. By 5am, operations were ongoing. No injuries were reported.

The department issued a notice urging residents affected by smoke and odor to close windows and doors and remain calm.

This is the second similar fire in the area within a short period. On February 1, another barge loaded with scrap metal caught fire at the same working area, burning for over four hours and spreading fumes across the harbor to Sheung Wan. The location of today's fire was reportedly only about three to four berths away from the previous incident.

While not the same vessel, the consecutive fires involving scrap metal on barges have drawn attention. The cause of the latest fir