(Video) Fire breaks out at Tuen Mun shopping center, prompting evacuation and road closures

A fire broke out at Richland Shopping Arcade in Tuen Mun on Saturday morning, filling the building with thick smoke and leading to the evacuation of dozens of people, while causing significant traffic disruptions in the area.

A fire erupted inside the Richland Shopping Arcade located in Tuen Mun shortly after 11.30am today. 

Dense black smoke billowed from the building and rose high into the air, visible from the surrounding area.

Firefighters were quickly dispatched to the scene and deployed one water jet and one breathing team to combat the blaze.

Approximately 50 people inside the mall self-evacuated to safety as emergency services arrived.

The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

Initial reports suggest the fire may have originated in an electrical switch room for the adjacent Richland Garden residential complex, while other accounts indicate it may have started in the kitchen of a restaurant within the mall.

Fire crews are actively working to fully extinguish the fire.

Social media footage from the scene showed a startling sight from within a restaurant in the building, where patrons could be seen continuing to drink tea, seemingly unperturbed, as thick smoke obscured the view outside.

Due to the emergency response, the Transport Department has announced a partial road closure on Wu Chui Road in the direction of Lung Mun Road, near its junction with Wu King Road. Motorists are advised to use the remaining open lanes and expect heavy traffic in the vicinity.