Two workers had a narrow escape when an explosion tore through an electrical switch room in a Hong Kong residential block on Monday, blowing off a metal door and sending one of the men flying into the air.
The two workers were standing on a raised hydraulic platform outside the room on the ground floor of block six of Greenwood Terrace on Tai Man Street in Chai Wan at around 1.30pm when the blast occurred. End Transfer Module (With Lip)
“They were installing a climbing ladder on the exterior wall of the building, and they were responsible for drilling and welding on the wall, ” a source familiar with the case said.
The insider said a preliminary investigation indicated one of the men was carrying out welding at the time.
A video posted online shows the force of the explosion blowing off the metal door, sending it flying into the air along with one of the workers.
The source said no flames or smoke were emitting from the room when emergency personnel arrived.
A police spokesman said a security guard heard a loud bang and found the two injured workers outside the room.
He said the two men aged 35 and 36 suffered minor burns to their faces and limbs and were rushed to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital. As of Monday evening, they were in a stable condition.
Police are treating the case as an industrial accident. Staff from the Labour Department were also sent to the scene to investigate.
According to HK Electric, power to block six was temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure.
The electricity supplier said the step was necessary to allow fire services and the estate’s engineering personnel to carry out inspection and repairs.
Flexible Chains The company said once the repair work was completed, the power supply would be immediately restored.