An intense fire which blazed for more than 20 hours at a Hong Kong warehouse has been largely extinguished.
In an update at around 11.30am on Wednesday, the Fire Services Department said the blaze at the warehouse on Ha Tsuen Road in Tin Shui Wai was largely put out at around 10am.
Firefighters were still watering the site to lower the temperature and prevent reignition.
The department earlier said that the fire had been contained at 6.12am, but efforts to put it out continued.
The fire broke out at 12.40pm on Tuesday and was upgraded to a No 3 alarm fire less than an hour later at 1.33pm.
Items stored at the warehouse included electrical appliances and clothes, among others.
The fire was “intense”, covering an area of 200 metres (656 feet) by 200 metres, with temperatures reaching nearly 550 degrees Celsius, according to the department.
More than 200 people were evacuated or forced to run for safety. Residents in Shenzhen’s neighbouring districts of Nanshan and Futian also reported seeing smoke and smelling a strong odour due to the blaze.
A warehouse staff member, 53, suffered second-degree burns to his neck and back due to the blaze, while a firefighter was overwhelmed by smoke. Both were sent to hospital.
A No 3 alarm indicates a serious fire spanning multiple floors or buildings, with flames likely to become more dangerous due to the potential presence of hazardous materials or rapid development.
The warning typically means that around 15 to 20 fire engines and about 100 firefighters are working to bring the blaze under control.
