On the morning of June 6 at 7:25 AM, a fire and explosion occurred in a rental unit located at No. 221-225 North Waching Street, Tai Cheung Estate, causing smoke and heat to fill the building. The blaze started in the toilet of the unit, where a coal-fired hot water heater had apparently malfunctioned and caught fire, producing a loud explosion. The fire was extinguished by firefighters approximately 13 minutes after their arrival. In total, five residents were evacuated with assistance from the firefighters. One of the female residents, a 44-year-old Ms. Chen, suffered a head injury as she attempted to leave the building and collapsed, requiring medical attention. Ms. Chen was later taken to the Mai Po Hospital for treatment after being revived.
Onsite investigation showed that Ms. Chen had been using the coal-fired hot water heater in the bathroom when the malfunction occurred, leading to the fire. Emergency services, including the police and firefighters, responded quickly. While the cause of the explosion is still under investigation, similar incidents have raised concerns about the safety of coal-fired appliances in older buildings. This event also highlights the importance of regular maintenance and safety checks for such units.