Woman hurt in Prince Edward flat explosion after boiler gas leak
A woman suffered a forehead injury when a suspected town gas leak from a boiler caused an explosion and fire at a Prince Edward flat. Authorities impounded the water heater for analysis after finding gas had escaped from an internal pipe connection.
A female resident was taken to hospital with a forehead injury after a suspected town gas leak from a boiler sparked an explosion and fire at an apartment building in Prince Edward on 6 November.
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department said gas had escaped from an internal pipe connection within the appliance. Safety officers impounded the unit for technical analysis.
The incident happened at May Bon Building in Prince Edward, where an explosion was heard before flames broke out inside the residential unit. The woman hurt her forehead while scrambling to escape the flat, and was taken to hospital in a conscious state.
Emergency crews arrived shortly after to contain the scene and ensure building safety. Responding to inquiries from Sing Tao Headline, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department said inspectors were dispatched immediately to conduct on-site investigations.
Initial examinations revealed that gas had leaked from a connection point along the boiler's internal piping, triggering the blast and combustion. The department confirmed the water heater was a government-approved model bearing the official GU mark.
Departmental maintenance records showed the gas installations in the affected apartment had undergone a routine safety inspection in July 2025, during which no irregularities or defects were detected. Safety inspectors have seized the water heater for detailed laboratory testing and metallurgical examination to determine the root cause of the joint failure.