One dead, eight injured in Shek Kip Mei fire, 200 evacuated in pajamas

A morning fire at Shek Kip Mei Estate claimed the life of an elderly man and injured at least eight others, leading to the evacuation of over 200 residents. 

The fire broke out around 8 am in a unit on the 21st floor of Mei Yue House. The fire services deployed one water jet along with a breathing apparatus team to fight the blaze. The fire was reportedly extinguished by 8.54am.

The charred body of an elderly man was found inside the gutted unit. Eight individuals, one man and seven women, were sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation treatment.

As the fire raged, around 200 residents, many still in their pajamas and wrapped in blankets, evacuated the building.

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Chow, a neighbor on the same floor, described the harrowing moments as dense smoke filled the corridors. "We couldn't leave. We could only seal the door gaps with wet towels.”

Chow highlighted ongoing fire hazards in the building, pointing out that fire doors are frequently propped open to dry laundry, while the hallways are often cluttered with cardboard.

He said the couple in the affected unit were in their 70s, with the husband relying on an electric wheelchair.

Another resident, Kwong, living one floor above, initially believed the fire alarm was a routine drill until his helper noticed smoke coming from a window. 

Rushing downstairs, he witnessed two individuals trying to access a fire hose that had no water. He quickly returned to help his mother, who uses a wheelchair, expressing gratitude for the young people who assisted in getting her to safety.

Wong, a resident from the 26th floor, evacuated safely with her two pet cats, recalling the recent fire incident in Tai Po as a motivator to escape quickly. 

Fellow resident Chan also mentioned the heightened anxiety following the Tai Po fire, as he quickly gathered his essential items upon detecting the smoke.

In a statement following the incident, the Fire Services Department confirmed that the building’s fire safety equipment was operational and held valid annual certificates. The cause of the fire is under investigation, with preliminary assessments pointing towards an electrical fault as a possible cause.