A fire broke out at a Shek Kip Mei housing estate early Friday morning, killing one person who fell to his death and injuring 11.
Authorities received reports about the fire at a 12th floor unit in Pak Tin Estate just before 2:30 am.
More than 40 firefighters and a dozen firetrucks were mobilized in response to the blaze.
A man who reportedly lived in a flat opposite where the fire started fell out the window after smoke engulfed his unit. Suffering multiple fractures, the man was rushed to hospital and declared dead.
He is believed to have been climbing out in an attempt to escape, losing his footing in the chaos.
Eleven others who suffered smoke inhalation, including a woman who fell unconscious, were sent to Caritas Medical Center and Princess Margaret Hospital.
Read more: Fatal fire kills mother, 2 daughters in Tai Po subdivided flat
A woman told HK01 that the flat where the fire broke out belongs to a woman who lived alone, and that she was earlier heard her arguing with two male visitors. One of the men yelled that he would set the housing estate on fire if she didn’t come out, the woman recalled.
Yu Wai-ming, an assistant divisional officer with the fire department, said during a media briefing that authorities received similar reports about a fight shortly before the fire broke out.
Police confirmed later that a man and a woman were arrested on suspicion of arson.
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