# Hong Kong Waste-Facility Fire Largely Extinguished After No. 3 Alarm

The government says the fire was largely extinguished at 4:45 p.m.; about 930 people self-evacuated and one person felt unwell and was taken to hospital.

By Will Langan | 24X7 News
Published: 2026-10-26T08:10:25.716Z
Updated: 2026-10-26T12:10:23.145Z
Section: World
Format: News
Canonical: https://24x7news.us/articles/hong-kong-waste-facility-fire-smoke-advisory-october-26-2026

A No. 3 alarm fire at Hong Kong’s waste-management facility off Shek Kwu Chau was largely put out at 4:45 p.m. local time Monday, October 26, the government said.

Its 5 p.m. statement said crews surrounded the fire at 3:47 p.m. and brought it under control at 4:18 p.m. Firefighters used five jets and five breathing apparatus teams. About 930 people evacuated themselves to safety. One person felt unwell and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department issued a smoke advisory Monday, October 26, as crews fought a fire at a waste management facility on an artificial island off Shek Kwu Chau.

The department said it received reports of the fire at 12:43 p.m. local time. Its announcement, issued at 2:40 p.m., said firefighting was underway and advised people affected by windblown smoke and an unusual odour to close doors and windows and stay calm.

The blaze was upgraded to a No. 3 alarm at 1:24 p.m. Initial accounts reported two jets and two breathing apparatus teams; the later government statement increased those figures to five each.

The facility is off Hong Kong’s southwestern coast, south of Lantau Island. Initial reporting described thick black smoke rising from the site and said no casualties had been reported at that point.

The government’s advisory did not identify a cause or give a damage estimate. The notice addressed people affected by smoke; it was not a citywide evacuation order.

Update, October 26: Added the No. 3 alarm escalation and the initial firefighting deployment. The reported escalation occurred at 1:24 p.m. Hong Kong time.

Update, October 26, 7:10 a.m. CDT: Added the government’s 5 p.m. Hong Kong statement reporting the fire largely put out at 4:45 p.m., the expanded response, evacuation count and one person taken to hospital after feeling unwell.

Sources:
Hong Kong government — Fire Services Department announcement, October 26, 2:40 p.m. HKT: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202610/26/P2026102600468.htm
Reuters — Waste-facility fire off Hong Kong, October 26: https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/large-fire-breaks-out-island-off-hong-kong-2026-10-26/
RTHK — No. 3 alarm fire, October 26, 2:56 p.m. HKT: https://gbcode.rthk.hk/TuniS/news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1875362-20261026.htm?spTabChangeable=0
The Standard — No. 3 alarm fire at Shek Kwu Chau, October 26: https://www.thestandard.com.hk/news/article/346508/No-3-alarm-fire-breaks-out-at-Shek-Kwu-Chau-waste-facility
Hong Kong government — final fire-response update, October 26, 5 p.m. HKT: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202610/26/P2026102600580.htm

## Sources
- Hong Kong government — Fire Services Department announcement, October 26, 2:40 p.m. HKT: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202610/26/P2026102600468.htm
- Reuters — Waste-facility fire off Hong Kong, October 26: https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/large-fire-breaks-out-island-off-hong-kong-2026-10-26/
- RTHK — No. 3 alarm fire, October 26, 2:56 p.m. HKT: https://gbcode.rthk.hk/TuniS/news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1875362-20261026.htm?spTabChangeable=0
- The Standard — No. 3 alarm fire at Shek Kwu Chau, October 26: https://www.thestandard.com.hk/news/article/346508/No-3-alarm-fire-breaks-out-at-Shek-Kwu-Chau-waste-facility
- Hong Kong government — final fire-response update, October 26, 5 p.m. HKT: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202610/26/P2026102600580.htm