Tai Po fire hearing: 1st resident who reported the fire found 999 line “busy”

已複製連結

The Independent Committee established by the government to investigate the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po held its fourth hearing on Thursday, with several residents of Wang Fuk Court testifying. 

The first resident to report the fire to the Police said she heard scaffolding workers shouting "fire!" and suspected that the scaffolding had caught fire.

The resident, who lived on the 10th floor of Wang Cheung House, recalled that at 2:50 PM that day, she smelled smoke and heard scaffolding workers shouting "Fire!" 

She immediately closed the window and left. Upon exiting, she saw other neighbours. One neighbor called the management office and was told, "Something is burning on the scaffolding." 

She then called 999 to report the incident, but heard "busy" two or three times.

The government’s lawyer indicated that according to records, she was the first resident to report the incident.