Thick smoke blankets Tuen Mun after scrap metal barge fire
A fire broke out on a scrap metal barge moored near Tuen Mun's cargo working area on Tuesday afternoon, sending thick smoke over the district. Fire services deployed a water jet and breathing apparatus team; no injuries were reported and the cause is under investigation.
A fire broke out on a barge loaded with scrap metal moored near the cargo working area in Tuen Mun on Tuesday afternoon, sending a thick plume of smoke into the sky and alarming nearby residents.
The Fire Services Department and police received multiple emergency calls at around 1.30pm after witnesses spotted the blaze on the vessel. Video footage shared online showed dense white smoke pouring from the barge, while residents in the vicinity reported a strong smell of burning plastic.
According to officials, the fire is believed to have started in a 10-by-10 metre section of scrap metal before rapidly spreading to other piles aboard the vessel. A water jet and a breathing apparatus team were deployed to bring the flames under control.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.