Ten injured in metal scaffolding collapse at Hong Kong waste treatment plant
- Workers were carrying out repairs to incinerator when seven-storey support structure gave way
- Nearly 100 rescuers using life detectors and sniffer dogs combed through the debris to find men trapped inside
Ten workers were injured after a metal scaffolding tower rising seven storeys inside a government-owned chemical waste treatment facility collapsed in Hong Kong on Sunday.
Nearly 100 emergency rescuers using life detector devices and sniffer dogs combed through the debris at the Tsing Yi plant in search of the workers, one of whom was in serious condition. The government has launched an investigation into the incident to determine whether workplace safety rules were violated at the facility, which is run by Ecospace.
A dozen workers were spread across the scaffolding, with levels spaced about two metres apart, which had been erected to carry out repairs inside the incinerator chimney when the structure gave way.
Firefighters said they arrived on the scene within five minutes of receiving the call at 9.15am.
“Many were injured and there was a risk of a further collapse,” said Hung Tak-shing, commander of the Kwai Chung Fire Station. “The narrow space inside the incinerator made rescue operations difficult.”
