The Luck House was seen engulfed in flames. Photo via Facebook
Not less than five people have been killed and over 35 others were injured after an outbreak of fire in a Hong Kong gymnasium centre at a building for both residential and commercial uses on Wednesday morning.
Emergency services hurried to the scene located at New Lucky House on Jordan Road after receiving the call at 7.53 am after distress calls.
According to the reports by SCMP online news media, people were seen being rescued right from the Power Gymnasium on the building at its first floor.
The police report said that two women and three men gave up as a result of the blaze while other 15 were injured and sent to four different hospitals for treatment.
The blaze was able to be controlled at about an hour after the report came through, authorities said.
The report from the SCMP said some residents who could not be able to find their way out were seen from the windows waving white towels to signal for help before firefighters arrived for their rescue.
The report added that some of those evacuated waited at the scene to receive further assistance while a woman was sighted sobbing on the pavement after being rescued.
The source close to the incident said “The gym was reportedly operating when the fire broke out, but it remains uncertain whether there were any clients inside at the time,” he said.
The insider said some residents had passed out in the building’s public areas due to smoke inhalation before they were rescued by emergency personnel.
The blaze started on a lower floor of the building, causing dense smoke to fill the staircases and public corridors and potentially contributing to the number of victims, he added.
For the residents that would be in need, the government had set up a temporary shelter at Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre.
All lanes on Jordan Road towards Hung Hom were closed to traffic, in addition to all Tsim Sha Tsui-bound lanes along Nathan Road, said the Transport Department.
佐敦新吉祥樓香港體育館中心發生火災，造成至少5人死亡、35人受傷
週三上午，香港一棟住宅和商業用途的健身中心發生火災，造成至少 5 人死亡、超過 15 人受傷。
緊急服務人員於早上7時53分接到求救電話後，迅速趕往位於佐敦道新福樓的現場。
據《南華早報》網路新聞媒體報道，有人在大樓一樓的電力體育館內被救出。
警方報告稱，兩名婦女和三名男子因火災而放棄，另外 15 人受傷，被送往四家不同的醫院接受治療。
當局表示，報告發出後大約一個小時，火勢就得到了控制。
《南華早報》的報導稱，一些無法找到出路的居民在消防員趕到救援之前，從窗戶揮舞著白毛巾求救。
接近事件的消息人士稱，「據報道，火災發生時健身房正在營業，但仍不確定當時裡面是否有顧客，」他說。
知情人稱，部分居民在大樓公共區域因吸入煙霧昏倒，隨後被急救人員救出。
報導補充說，一些被疏散的人在現場等待進一步的援助，而一名婦女獲救後在人行道上哭泣。
對於有需要的居民，政府已在梁顯利油麻地社區中心設立臨時庇護所。
運輸署表示，除了沿著彌敦道往尖沙咀方向的所有車道外，佐敦道往紅磡的所有車道均已封閉。
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