Barge Fire Off Tsing Yi Finally Put Out

A fire on a barge off Tsing Yi, which prompted warnings to residents in West Kowloon, was largely extinguished on Thursday morning – around 15 hours after it broke out.

The Fire Services Department had urged residents in the area to close their doors and windows because of the acrid smoke coming from the blaze.

The barge, which was carrying scrap metal, caught fire at around 5.30pm on Wednesday afternoon.

Firefighters with breathing apparatus and two fire boats were dispatched to the scene, though this was later reduced to a single fire boat.

The fire was largely put out by 8.20am on Thursday and no casualties were reported.

Some district councillors said residents around Mei Foo and Cheung Sha Wan complained of feeling unwell.

"I immediately closed all the windows and turned on the air freshener at my home after I started having a runny nose," said Mr Yeung, who lives in Tsing Yi.

Ms Chan, who lives in Sham Shui Po, described the smell as similar to road construction works, and the smell of burning plastic persisted even after she turned on her aircon.

She said it didn’t make her feel unwell, however.

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