Barge catches fire at Yau Ma Tei cargo area, second case in less than a week

A barge carrying recycled metal caught fire at the New Yau Ma Tei Public Cargo Working Area in Hong Kong early on Friday, marking the second similar blaze at the site in less than a week and prompting renewed calls by a lawmaker for stronger oversight and safety measures.The fire-services-department" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="14230" data-entity-type="organization">fire Services Department said it received a report at 4.19am that a fire had broken out on a barge moored off the area along Hoi Fai Road.A spokesman said firefighters launched a marine and land operation to put out the blaze.“Members of the public affected by the smoke and an unusual odour carried by the wind are advised to stay indoors, close their doors and windows, and stay calm,” he added.Police said initial checks found no evidence of criminal activity. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.Lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun noted on Friday that the fire was the second involving recycled metal materials at the same cargo working area within six days, and the fifth similar incident in the past year.“It is highly unsatisfactory that two fires of a similar nature occurred at nearly the same location within such a short period of time,” he said in a statement.