Name: TVB News at 7:30｜19 MAR 2026｜HONG KONG English Latest NEWS｜
Uploaded: 2026-03-20T00:14:07.000Z
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A tower crane collapsed at a construction site in Kwaichung this afternoon, killing an operator in his 60s.

Relative clauses (Restrictive vs. nonrestrictive)

The victim, who fell with the structure from height, was certified dead at the scene.

Online footage shows the crane snapping into multiple sections mid air before crashing down onto the hillside and nearby bridge.

Parts of the structure were seen lying across the slope along Tai Wahao Road with joints twisted outward and signs of rust visible.

The vertical support column was left partially broken.

Firefighters and police officers were sent to the scene.

The incident unfolded at around 4:30pm Police received multiple reports at the time that a tower crane collapsed at a Housing Authority construction site near Kwai Paec House at Kwaichung Housing Estate.

The operator fell with the crane and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The site, spanning Taiwo High Road and Kuaxing Circuit is under development for two public housing blocks providing 554 and 383 units respectively.

Originally scheduled for completion in the first and third quarters of next, the two buildings are to be connected by a footbridge.

The main contractor is understood to be Wound Li Construction.

Chao Si Ke, chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, says its understood the crane was lifting steel formwork at the time of the collapse.

He says they cannot rule out possibilities such as metal fatigue or poor welding which might have led to the incident.

A veteran engineer says the collapse may have been caused by the crane hooking onto a foreign object or improper maneuvering, as crane operation relies on precise balance, much like a seesaw where the load and counterweight must remain aligned.

External forces such as wind resistance while lifting loads could also create stress, potentially leading to structure failure, he says.

Public hearings into the Taipol 1 for Coil Fire started today.

Evidence suggests that smoking may be a possible cause of the fire.

There is also evidence of human error causing nearly all fire safety measures to fail.

The first public hearing took place at a city gallery in Central.

The Independent committee in relation to the fire at WENFELD Court listed 38 involved parties who are entitled to give statements, summon witnesses or provide evidence.

They include residents, property management, construction company and government departments.

Legal representatives for some parties were in attendance.

The committee first heard the opening remarks from Senior Counsel Victor Doss.

The fire broke out on Nov. 26 at about 2:30pm Wencheng House was the first of eight buildings to catch fire.

The blaze rapidly spread to six other blocks, killing at least 168 people.

Doles noted that the buildings were covered with substantive scaffolding, mesh and multiple fire safety meshes that ought to have protected life all failed.

He presented photos, CCTV footages, oral evidence and written submissions by residents that show fire alarms were switched off and smoke doors being left open.

Surveillance footage also showed fire started at the bottom of the light well outside flats 104 and 105 at Wancheng House.

While there is no direct evidence of the initial ignition, the evidence indic smoking as a possible cause.

Many cigarette spots and cardboard were found in the light well.

Out of over 1,000 survivors, only 40 said they heard the fire alarm during the fire.

Nearly half of them did not notice the fire until they were told by their neighbors and family members.

Dors played a few phone recordings of residents calling 999.

A caller who lived on the 27th floor of Wanchuan House repeated on the phone that the smoke was flooded very thick, asking someone to help her evacuate.

Doss revealed that the resident unfortunately died in the inferno.

Another elderly resident waited over one minute until the responder answered and connected her to the FSD's line.

The responder also told firefighters the wrong address of the caller.

Doh said the committee could also review how to better handle emergency calls.

The afternoon session also covers the deceased firefighter Ho Wai.

Ho Ho was among the first batch of firemen sent to the scene.

He was first assigned to Wan Chen House, but

CCTV captured him entering Wen Tai House, potentially due to the chaotic situation.

He was seen entering an elevator to the 25th floor.

Seven minutes later, he transmitted a mayday call saying that he was trapped on the 30th floor.

He, however, could not tell which block he was in.

After half an hour, he was found lying on the ground level and was certified dead in hospital.

It is believed that he broke a window to escape the flames.

The committee has received more than 1 million files, including numerous photos and videos from government departments, law enforcement agencies, contractors and members of the public.

This will provide an important basis for the preparation of its report and recommendations.

Sima Ansali TV News the public hearing into the went for court Deadly blaze has turned its focus on smoking violations and safety lapses before the tragedy.

The inquiry committee is now looking into whether relevant parties, including the government departments, had identified or failed to act on the risks before the tragedy struck.

A deadly blaze that claimed over 160 lives is believed to have been caused by a discarded cigarette, according to the Council for the Committee.

Labor Department received repeated complaints about workers smoking at the site of Wenfel Court as early as July 2024.

Despite the 16 inspections conducted, no violations were detected and no prohibition notices were issued.

Some complaints were referred to the Fire Services Department, which considered the matter outside its purview.

But police later reviewed internal chat records among workers from the contractors and found more than 80 instances of illegal smoking with the contractor reportedly issued nearly weekly reminders and even introduced a penalty system to deter such behavior.

The inquiry also revealed that the rapid spread of the fire may have been linked to the use of non fire resistant materials, including scaffolding netting.

Further concerns were raised when the committee had been notified in advance of an inspection by the government's independent audit team.

The contractor then arranged for a compliant fire retardant netting, which was not used just before the inspection.

Residents expressed disbelief after the hearing.

This resident says it's ridiculous that safety was compromised for profit and if the allegations are true, those responding show a disregard for human life.

This resident calls for accountability, saying justice must be served for the victims.

In Lebanon, displaced families are bracing for the Eid el Fitr festival while trying to keep their Ramadan customs amid renewed Israeli attacks across the country.

As Tehran kept up its missile attacks on neighboring countries.

Foreign ministers of 12 Gulf states are meeting in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, warning that they have significant capabilities with which to respond to the strikes.

The Islamic holiday of Eid al Fita that marks the end of Ramadan is around the corner.

Many displaced families in Lebanon who normally would have been shopping for meat and sweets to break the fast had to keep Ramadan observances and shelters in the run up to a festival marked by hardship.

Sadhra Zibana Muffin in Sidon, a displaced woman, said, it's such a shame for Ramadan to have passed without them being able to fast or to buy anything, proclaiming we're now living in hell.

Scores of people were reduced to sleeping in tents on the streets or in their vehicles, while others scrambled to find makeshift arrangements.

In Cabotol Beirut, paper and plastic lanterns adorned the hallways of a school that has been converted into a shelter for hundreds as people gathered to recapture a taste of the holiday traditions.

The Lebanese government said more than 1 million residents were forced to flee their homes and at least 912 people have been killed since the last round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Although the Strait of Hormuz remains close to most commercial traffic, at least 89 ships got through since the start of the Iran war, including 16 oil tankers.

Over one fifth of the vessels were reported to be Iran affiliated.

There are also ships affiliated with India and Pakistan are heading to China.

Meanwhile, foreign ministers of Gulf states are gathering in Riyadh for a pivotal meeting to tackle escalating Middle east tensions.

This as Abu Dhabi's Al Dharfra Air Base, which hosts about 2,000American troops, came under attack on March 15.

Video showed one set of hangars to the northwest of the base damaged and another hangar to the southeast of the facility shredded by fire.

Saudi Arabia, which had intercepted four ballistic missiles from Iran ahead of the talks, called for an end to hostilities on countries not directly involved in the conflict.

The targeting of Riyadh while a number of diplomats are meeting, I cannot see as coincidental.

And I think that's the clearest signal of how Iran feels about diplomacy.

It doesn't believe in talking to its neighbors.

And what I can say categorically, that's not going to work.

The kingdom is not going to succumb to pressure.

And on the contrary, this pressure will backfire.

And still ahead, Emmanuel Macron reveals the name of France's forthcoming aircraft carrier Meningitis sterisphere in southeast England and Victoria park readies for annual flower show.

French President Emmanuel Macan named France's next nuclear powered aircraft carrier the Fronds Leap, framing it as a symbol of national independence and a push to strengthen the country's naval force.

Macan unveiled the warship's name during a visit to the shipyard in the western town of Andre, where its nuclear reactors are to be built.

The ship, which is to enter service in 2038, will have a capacity for 30 Hafel fighter jets and 2,000 sailors.

The cost of the carrier is expected to be around 10 billion euros.

In the UK, doctors have been warned to watch for an unprecedented outbreak of bacterial meningitis that led to the death of two young people in the university town of Canterbury.

20 new cases of the infection, which can spread through close contact, have been confirmed.

You have an infection leading to inflammation of the membranes that surround your brain.