The SUN HK : Filipina teacher dies from injuries in North Point fire

01 October 2023

Firemen at the scene of the fire on Wednesday (Photo from TheStandard)

A 32-year-old Filipina who was taken to the hospital unconscious on Wednesday, Sept. 27, after a pre-dawn fire broke out in a subdivided flat in North Point succumbed to her injuries yesterday at about 3:27pm.

The teacher, said to be a teacher on employment visa, lived alone in one unit of the flat at Ying Wong House (also known as Emperor House) at 153 King’s Road.

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She was taken unconscious to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai where she was was listed in critical condition until she passed on.

According to Consul Paul Saret, head of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, some family members of the victim are already in Hong Kong and have been briefed about the procedure for repatriating her remains.

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However, a date has yet to be set for the repatriation.

No information was readily available, either, as to the immediate cause of her death although her relatives have reported seeing her body unscathed or with no visible injuries.

One of the unconscious victims being rushed to hospital (TheStandard)

Another woman, a 22-year-old local Chinese resident surnamed Chan who also lived in the flat, passed away on Thursday at the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.

A third resident, a 22-year-old local man surnamed Lam, remains in critical condition also at Eastern Hospital.

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Only one resident has escaped from the fire with only minor injuries. The 35-year-old man said he escaped through a window and ended up on a ledge where he shouted for help. He was plucked to safety and regained consciousness before being taken to Ruttonjee.

All the three victims were unconscious when rushed to hospital, where they were listed in critical condition.

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The incident occurred shortly after 2am in the only vacant room in the flat.

Police said they did not find anything suspicious despite the presence of combustible materials in the unoccupied room, but they are still investigating the exact cause of the fire.

“At this stage, there is no evidence that the case involves criminal elements. The police and relevant departments will continue to investigate the cause of the fire,” the police said earlier.