A boy has died in a fire suspected to be caused by a short circuit from an electric scooter in Shatin last night.
His 48-year-old father is in critical condition.
The fire started at around 11.30pm from a flat on the thirteenth-floor of Oriole House in Sha Kok Estate. Firefighters arrived at the scene and put out the fire shortly upon receiving calls.
The boy and his father were found unconscious inside the flat and sent to Prince of Whales Hospital, where the 7-year-old died later.
Another female resident living next to the flat, 41, suffered from smoke inhalation and was sent to the hospital. She was conscious when taken to the hospital.
Around 100 residents were evacuated.
Police said an initial investigation showed that the fire was caused by a short circuit from two charging electric scooters outside the flat, and no other suspicious circumstance was detected.
The police returned to the flat this morning and took the burnt electric scooters for further investigation.
A resident said she heard explosion sounds last night, and her husband heard someone crying for help from the flat guttered by fire. The corridor was covered with thick smoke at that time.
She said the family of three living there had used the electric scooters frequently.
