Hong Kong | 1 killed, 4 injured, 2 missing in oil tanker blaze off Lamma Island

Black smoke billows from an oil tanker after catching fire off Lamma island

One person was killed, while four others were injured and another two went missing after an oil tanker caught fire yesterday off Hong Kong’s Lamma Island.

The Vietnam-registered tanker burst into flames just before 11:30 a.m. as it prepared to refuel at Lamma Southwest Anchorage, said Yiu Men-Yeung, commander of the Hong Kong Fire Department marine and diving division.

The force of the blast left the 140-meter-long tanker at a 30-degree angle and threw its 25-member crew into the water, Wong Wai- hong, a Hong Kong Police deputy commander, said at a news conference. The refueling barge was destroyed.

Among the 26 people aboard, one man was found dead at the scene, while 23 were rescued from the sea. Four of the rescued were injured and sent to hospital. Among them, one was seriously burned, according to the information service department.

Emergency crew and a total of six vessels from the HKSAR’s Fire Service Department and the Marine Region of the Hong Kong Police Force rushed to the scene to rescue the victims. The fire was brought under control by 3:42 p.m.

The HKSAR Government Flying Service also sent helicopters to search for the two missing people. The police is looking at the cause of the fire.

The Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) contacted Hong Kong authorities and was informed that the vessel was not carrying oil and therefore there is no danger of a black tide in Macau.  MDT/Agencies