Man dies in fire at Hong Kong homeless shelter, burnt charcoal found at scene

A man has died in a fire at a shelter for the homeless and needy in Hong Kong’s Yau Ma Tei, with traces of burnt charcoal found at the scene.

Police were alerted at 12.28pm on Tuesday of the fire at 124 Shanghai Street. Officers found the victim with burn marks at the scene, and the No 1 alarm fire was put out at 12.46pm.

The man was sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei, where he was later certified dead, police said, adding that the victim suffered third degree burns.

A source identified the location of the fire as a non-profit organisation providing services to the homeless and people in need.

According to the source, police and the Fire Services Department were looking into the case, with a preliminary investigation suggesting the cause of the fire was suspicious, given the traces of burnt charcoal found at the scene.