20 pupils hospitalized after fire breaks out near Kwai Chung primary school

A fire near a primary school in Kwai Chung on Thursday (Jan 9) resulted in 20 pupils being sent to the hospital for further checkups.

The fire erupted around 1 pm when a trolley outside St. John's Catholic Primary School in Shek Lei caught flame.

Thick black smoke billowed, and all the students had to be evacuated to the playground. Thirteen females and seven males, aged 6 to 10, reported feeling unwell and were sent to Princess Margaret Hospital and Yan Chai Hospital.

Firefighters put out the blaze swiftly and the fire was suspicious in nature. The case is classified as arson and the investigation is ongoing.