A fire broke out in Block 2 of New City Garden housing estate on Rua de Lei Pou Ch’ôn last night, injuring four individuals, the youngest of whom is two years old.
According to the Fire Services Bureau (CB), the blaze erupted in a flat on the residential building’s 19th floor in Toi San district. Firefighters responding to the scene extinguished the fire using open hoses in about 14 minutes and conducted smoke extraction operations. About 16 dwellers self-evacuated. The corridors of the flat involved and an adjacent flat were affected, showing signs of smoke damage.
There were five victims aged between two and 66, three with burns to their hands and feet. A woman, a two-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl were rushed to the public Conde de S. Januário Hospital Centre for emergency treatment of burns. A 20-year-old female passerby suffered a laceration on her right arm after being hit by a falling object, while a 66-year-old woman suffered from smoke inhalation, both required hospital treatment.
Speaking to the media at the scene, CB Vice Commissioner Lam Chon Sang said that members of the public reported hearing a loud noise at the site of the fire. Online pictures show broken glass and debris strewn across the street from the scene.
A video shows the flames in the ill-fated flat, with smoke billowing out. According to Lam, the firefighters arriving at the scene found that both of the building’s lifts were out of service and had to access the flat on foot. A total of 16 fire engines and ambulances, with 58 firefighters, were sent to the scene.
The cause of the fire was still under investigation late last night. Lam said that the building primarily uses centralised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which was turned off at the mains immediately upon the firefighters’ arrival. He added that the respective LPG company and the Housing Bureau (IH) have been notified about the incident to conduct further investigations.
The site was temporarily cordoned off, and several bus routes had to be re-routed as a result.
The Social Welfare Bureau said in a statement that at least 30 affected residents took refuge at the Macau Federation of Trade Unions Toi San Community Centre following the incident.
These photos circulating on Facebook show last night’s fire at Block 2 of the New City Garden housing estate in Toi San district and broken glass and debris strewn across the street from the building.
