Exclusive | Cigarette butt may have caused fire that killed 5 in Hong Kong building, Post learns
- Preliminary investigation suggests blaze started when piles of plastic rubbish bags burst into flames at first floor of New Lucky House in Yau Ma Tei
- Source says no signs of arson or any criminal elements, but if discarded cigarette butt caused the fire, smoker may face prosecution
A source familiar with the case said on Thursday that a preliminary investigation suggested the blaze started when piles of plastic rubbish bags burst into flames at the bottom of a lightwell on the first floor of 16-storey New Lucky House in Yau Ma Tei on Wednesday.
The insider said the refuse bags, believed to be used to collect rubbish from households, were delivered to the building and stored there about a week ago.
“An investigation into the source of the spark that ignited the bags is still under way,” the insider said, adding that a discarded cigarette butt from a public corridor on an upper floor of the building had been listed as a possible clue.
He said cigarette butts could be found in public areas on almost every floor of the building that had 35 guest houses and dozens of subdivided flats.
The source said an initial investigation of the tragic blaze had not found signs of arson or any criminal elements.