Man dies after fall from building during ‘suspicious’ blaze in Hong Kong

A man died after falling from a residential building during a fire on Friday in Hong Kong’s Tsuen Wan, with authorities later saying the blaze was suspicious and had occurred after a dispute.

Police said they had received reports of a fire at Shek To House in Shek Wai Kok Estate at around 4.05pm. The man fell from the building and was sent to Yan Chai Hospital in Tsuen Wan, police said. He was certified dead in hospital.

Lee Ho-yin, the Fire Services Department’s deputy divisional commander for New Territories South, said the blaze was put out at 4.29pm.

“We initially believe that the reasons behind the fire were suspicious. First, after receiving reports of the fire, the blaze was already quite big. Upon our arrival, the flat was also severely burned,” he said, adding that they had found some “unusual circumstances”.

“We also received preliminary information that it was suspected a dispute may have occurred between the flat owner and the deceased.”

Lee said the relationship between the owner and the deceased required further investigation, but they had lived together.

He said the department had received a report of a man falling from height at 4.08pm before firefighters arrived at 4.10pm. The whereabouts of the flat owner was not mentioned.