Hundreds evacuated after cooking mishap sparks false alarm at Hong Kong estate

Hundreds of residents at a Hong Kong public housing estate were evacuated in the early hours of the second day of Lunar New Year over a suspected fire, only to discover that white smoke billowing from a flat had come from a cooking mishap.

The Fire Services Department received a fire alarm report at about 2.30am on Wednesday at Kin Wah House, Kin Ming Estate in Tiu Keng Leng.

Some residents took to social media to report the incident.

“Where is the fire? I’m ready to grab my two cats and evacuate,” an online user, Chi Him Lam, said.

Hundreds have been evacuated after white smoke billowed from a flat at a Hong Kong public housing estate. Photo: Handout
Hundreds have been evacuated after white smoke billowed from a flat at a Hong Kong public housing estate. Photo: Handout

Other users said they had been asleep when the alarm and their neighbours’ screaming woke them up.

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