Flames and embers coming out of the windows of a gigantic building in the heart of Hong Kong. The images are impressive. A major fire on Thursday night ravaged a skyscraper under construction in the tourist heart. If the fire is now "largely extinguished", the concrete walls are blackened and remains of scaffolding were visible in the morning, found an AFP journalist on the spot.


🔴 Hong Kong:

Spectacular fire in a building under construction. #Hongkong #incendie #immeuble pic.twitter.com/RXDNO50zSs

— Lazarus (@Lazare2423) March 3, 2023

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No casualties were reported but two people were slightly injured and treated, according to firefighters. Police told AFP that 170 residents had been safely rehoused. Authorities also said a major stretch of the district's main thoroughfare - and Hong Kong - had been closed, causing traffic disruptions.

A $764 million project

The fire broke out at 23:11 p.m., with flames first spotted near scaffolding at the top of the building. The blaze was visible from the port and caused snails to tumble down in nearby streets. An hour later, the fire spread throughout the building under construction and descended to the street, where hundreds of onlookers had gathered.

Keung Sai-ming, a fire official, said Friday that embers started two more fires on the roofs of nearby buildings, but they were quickly extinguished. "Last night the wind was strong and blew the flames towards five nearby buildings," he added.

The 42-story building under construction was to house a hotel and the historic Mariners' Club, according to the website of its developer, the Empire Group. The $764 million project was launched in 2019 and was originally scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2023, according to local media.

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