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| Several fire engines battled the blaze at the New Lucky House in Jordan (FB photo by HKEye) |
Police have yet to identify three of the five people who died in the fire that broke out at New Lucky House in Jordan on Wednesday morning.
The two who have been identified are both elderly
Chinese males surnamed Lai and Tsang.
Two of them, a man and a woman, are reported to be non-ethnic Chinese and possibly South Asian, while the other one is believed to be a Chinese woman, but the information has yet to be verified.
One of those killed was suspected to have jumped off the 16-storey building to escape the fire, and was found on the first-floor podium.
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| TAWAG NA! |
Three of the victims were found in the second-floor corridor, while the fifth was discovered on a staircase between the seventh and eighth floors.
Chief Executive John Lee extended his condolences to the families of those killed, and later visited some of the injured at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He said an investigation of the cause of the fire is top priority.
Among the 23 who were injured and are still in
hospital, eight are in critical condition, three are listed as serious, while
the rest, including an infant girl, are stable.
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| PINDUTIN DITO |
At least one foreign domestic helper was reported to be among those seriously injured in the fire. Reports say she suffered from smoke inhalation and sustained burns on her abdomen and waist, but was conscious when taken to hospital.
The FDH whose nationality was not identified, remains under observation
at the intensive care unit of Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Another helper was shown on video wailing on the pavement outside the building, saying she feared for her employer's safety. An accompanying report said the helper, who is apparently Indonesian, had just stepped out to buy breakfast when the fire broke out.
(Watch this video from HOY business channel: https://fb.watch/rmJU3-MMJ_/)
Forty people were initially taken to hospital for injuries, but 17 have already been discharged.
Those still under treatment are at Queen Elizabeth
Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, and Queen Mary
Hospital.
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| One of those injured is rushed to safety (HK Eye photo) |
The fire broke out at 7:53am on Wednesday at units 13 to 15 of the building’s first floor, and was escalated to no 3 alarm about 10 minutes later. A number of residents were trapped or injured, prompting a large-scale rescue operation.
About 250 people had to be rescued, while another 50
managed to move to safety on their own. Fire services volunteers went door-to-door
to check if there were residents that needed to be rescued.
By 8:54 am the fire was contained, and by 10:30am
was already completely extinguished. Its exact cause is still being
investigated.
About 35 of the units in the building have been converted into guest houses frequented by Asian travellers.
Residents were advised not to return to their units while
an investigation is being carried out, and to wait for further arrangements.
The Home Affairs Department has set up temporary
shelters at the Nam Cheong Community Centre and the Leung Hin Square Yau Ma Tei
Community Centre for those in need.
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