Large pieces of debris were visible on the ground
Hong Kong:
A construction site for a skyscraper in Hong Kong was engulfed in flames late on Thursday, city officials said.
Officials said the fire started at 11:11 pm (1511 GMT) in the center of Tsim Sha Tsui, a busy shopping and tourist district on the city’s harbourfront.
According to the government, there were no casualties in the early hours of Friday.
Flames were first seen near the scaffolding at the top of the building, with the fire clearly visible across the harbor and sparks raining down on neighboring streets.
About an hour later, the fire had spread the length of the building and reached street level, where hundreds of onlookers had gathered.
An AFP reporter at the scene said large pieces of debris – apparently from the site – were visible on the ground and a pungent smell was wafting in the air.
The building under construction was a 42-story “harborside icon” intended to house the historic Mariners’ Club and a new hotel, according to the website of its developer, Empire Group.
According to local media, the HK$6 billion ($764 million) redevelopment project was flagged off in 2019 and was originally expected to be completed in the first half of 2023.
Empire Group did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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