At least five people were injured and 10 boats destroyed after a huge fire swept through the typhoon shelter in Shai Kei Wan yesterday.
Loud bangs were heard at around 2:40pm in the afternoon, after which huge plumes of black smoke filled the sky around Aldrich Bay.
The shelter is said to have been particularly packed as boats moored up over the Mid-Autumn Festival. At least one vessel sunk after being reduced to its frame.
Initial investigations suggest the fire was started by a fishing boat that burnt so fiercely it broke its anchor rope and drifted into other vessels.
Around 150 firefighters and six fireboats attended the scene, but said their efforts were slowed due to congestion as people frantically tried to get their boats out of the shelter.
At least two men and three women suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.
Jane Candlish, a resident of the area, told the SCMP, ”We were in a restaurant … and saw a massive plume of black smoke rising from behind.
“More boats caught fire and there were more explosions … We saw massive pieces of smoky debris being blown around. The air was so toxic.”
HKFP took this video of the rescue effort:
Photo: Lazy KeySon, via Facebook
