169. It has been feared throughout the night that numerous persons may have been trapped in the building, but despite the strenuous efforts of rescue crews no persons could be located, nor could confirma- tion of missing persons be obtained from spectators. However, shortly after 06.00 hours the Manager of the emporium reported to the Police at the scene that 3 of his female employees were still unaccounted for. The fire was brought under control by 07.00 hours between which time and 08.30 hours the bodies of the 3 missing women were located at the 5th floor of houses 596-588.
170. Post fire investigations revealed many unauthorized alterations to the building, the most important of which was the conversion of the ground, 1st and 2nd floors into an almost uncompartmentated department store connected by open staircases which led to the 3rd floor; some escape routes had become dead ends as a result of alterations; huge stocks of goods had been stored on staircases, and there was excessive storage of goods on the upper floors; windows had been bricked up and ventilation openings on staircases sealed by shuttering.
171. The cause of the fire is believed to have been the over-heating of the motor of a cold drink dispensing machine, the normal fuse of which had been replaced by multi-strand oversize copper wire following the burning out of the former some 2 weeks previously.
172. At the time of writing this fire is the subject of a death inquiry.
SPECIAL SERVICES OF PARTICULAR INTEREST
Kowloon Bay Reclamation
173. At 16.09 hours on 10th April, 1965 a sewer in the Kwun Tong Road area collapsed on to three workers. One of the workers managed to extricate himself and call for assistance. Fire Service rescue teams wearing breathing apparatus entered the tunnel and found the other workers some 45 feet and 75 feet from the entrance to the sewer. Unfortunately, the two workers were certified dead on arrival at hospital.
Castle Peak Road, Kowloon
174. A New Territories taxi at about 07.11 hours on 11th May, 1965 ran off the road near the 154 m.s., Castle Peak Road and dropped more than 100 feet down the hillside trapping the driver and six passengers.
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