Burst pipe in Hong Kong’s North Point leaves thousands without water, electricity

A burst pipe in Hong Kong’s North Point on the weekend cut off the water supply to about 2,600 residents and left 130 households without electricity on Monday, prompting authorities to carry out emergency repairs.

The Home Affairs Department said the Water Supplies Department completed repairs on the water pipe early in the morning and that the water supply had resumed. But electricity at Ming Yuen Centre, a residential building near the damaged water main, was not restored until Monday afternoon.

“Regarding the power supply, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and [electricity provider] HK Electric have been on site, providing support to the building’s incorporated owners, management company and their contractors,” a Home Affairs Department spokesman said.

“The goal is to restore power as soon as it is safe to do so.”

At 2.25pm, the Post observed that workers from HK Electric, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Water Supplies Department and building staff were still working on repairs at Ming Yuen Centre.

HK Electric said power was restored at 4.35pm. The Water Services Department said water supply was back to normal at 5.30pm and apologised to affected customers for the inconvenience caused.

A woman in her seventies surnamed Sze, who lives on the 25th floor with her 79-year-old husband, had said they planned to stay away until the power was restored.