A fire broke out at a flat in Block 5 of Lago (“Lake”) Building in Taipa yesterday morning, resulting in two residents having to be rushed to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre for emergency treatment, with 54 firefighters and 12 emergency vehicles deployed – and the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) stated that “no residents were in need of temporary rehousing”.
The accident scene was a flat on the 7th floor of Block 5 of Lago Building – a subsidised home-ownership scheme (HOS) estate – on Rua da Madeira (馬德拉街). According to public broadcaster TDM’s live stream, Fire Services Bureau (CB) Vice Commissioner Lam Chon Sang told reporters that the flat was gutted by the blaze, while two neighbouring flats incurred minor damage, with their wooden doors charred. He said: “The scene showed significant damage to the lift, and the temperature was extremely high due to the wind pushing the flames through the flat,” adding that the wind had made the rescue efforts even more challenging.
The fire required an open hose and airway rescue operation*, Lam said, pointing out that the smoky blaze was extinguished within 15 minutes.
According to Lam, as the door to the flat was open when the firemen arrived, the heat had already intensified, making conditions challenging for the firefighters. They had to carry their equipment up the stairs, further complicating the rescue efforts, Lam underlined, adding that the temperature was already dangerously high when they accessed the lift area.
More than 20 dwellers self-evacuated from the scene. Lam confirmed that the flat did not have a sprinkler system, denying allegations that the alarm did not go off when the fire broke out.
The Fire Services Bureau identified the two female victims, both locals, as residents of the ill-fated flat aged 79 and 51, noting that they appeared unconscious and were suffering from smoke inhalation when they were found by firefighters in the corridor of their floor.
According to the bureau, the fire started in the living room, with the preliminary investigation indicating that the cause was a short circuit in the TV set.
The Social Welfare Bureau issued a statement saying that it was “very concerned” about the fire incident in Lago Building, noting that immediately upon learning of the incident, they arranged for social workers and staff from various social service organisations in Taipa to provide on-site emotional support and counselling to the dwellers, addressing their needs.
The Housing Bureau (IH) said in a statement that it had requested the building’s management company to provide an incident report on the fire for further investigation into the situation of the building’s alarm system and hydrant’s water pressure.
According to the IH statement, the on-site communal area on the 7th floor of the building concerned was heavily blackened, public lighting below the 8th floor was affected, and two of the five lifts were inoperable due to flooding by the fire-fighting operation.
* An open hose and airway rescue refers to a specialised rescue technique used in emergency situations, particularly in confined spaces or environments where people are trapped and require immediate access to breathable air. This method involves deploying a hose or similar device to provide a continuous supply of fresh air to the victims while rescuers work to extricate them safely. – DeepSeek
This photo circulating on social media platforms shows yesterday morning’s fire in a flat of Block 5 of Lago (“Lake”) Building in Taipa.
