A sizeable section of ceiling paneling inside an elevated pedestrian pathway between Des Voeux Road and the Central-Mid-Levels escalators suddenly collapsed this afternoon, though no one was injured, according to officials.
The collapse took place in a section of passageway that runs through the former Central Market, which is now the site of a revitalization project under the Urban Renewal Authority. A URA representative at the scene said the cause of the collapse was still being investigated, and confirmed that no one was hurt, but declined to comment further.
Before a large tarpaulin curtain was erected, workers could be seen inside the passageway, gathering debris littering the passage as rainwater trickled in through the roof.
BREAKING: A section of ceiling inside the elevated footpath connecting the Hang Seng Bank on Des Voeux and the central escalators on Queen's Road has collapsed. No injuries reported. Workers are on the scene (as is at least one district councillor). We'll update soon. #HongKong pic.twitter.com/2ZlbjUD7ud
— Coconuts Hong Kong (@CoconutsHK) August 1, 2019
Lawmaker Ted Hui was also on hand to look into the collapse.
“We know very little about this,” he told Coconuts HK, estimating that about one-quarter to one-third of the ceiling had come down, and adding that “water seepage,” presumably from today’s steady rains, was the thought to be the likely culprit at this point.
Central and Western District Councillor Ng Siu-hong, who was also at the scene, also suspected water damage.
“We can see that the exterior [roof] is broken and water is leaking in” between it and the ceiling, he said.
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