Tin Shui Wai flat blaze leaves man critically burned; arson suspected

A high-floor unit in Tin Shui Wai erupted into flames in the early hours of Friday morning, leaving a 51-year-old man with severe burns and forcing hundreds of residents to flee.

Firefighters were called at 3.43am today after multiple reports of thick smoke pouring from a flat in Chak Yun House, Tin Chak Estate.

Upon arrival, they found the unit fully engulfed, with flames visible from outside and heavy smoke filling the corridor.

Crews extinguished the blaze by 4.11am.

Rescuers pulled the 51-year-old male resident, believed to be the flat’s occupant, from the burning unit.

He suffered extensive burns over his body, was in and out of consciousness, and was seen writhing in pain as paramedics treated him in the lift lobby before rushing him to Tuen Mun Hospital in critical condition.

Between 400 and 500 residents, many still in pajamas and some carrying pets, evacuated to a nearby open area while the fire raged.

After a preliminary investigation, police and fire services classified the incident as suspicious and are treating it as arson.