Update | Galaxy Macau fire sees 6,000 workers evacuated from extension construction site
More than 6,000 workers were evacuated when fire broke out on the roof of an extension under construction at the Galaxy Hotel in Macau this morning.
More than 6,000 workers were evacuated when fire broke out on the roof of an extension under construction at the Galaxy Hotel in Macau this morning.
The blaze started on the roof of the yet-to-be completed 36-storey building at about 11am when workers were carrying out welding work, according to the Macau fire department.
Nine fire engines were dispatched and nearly 40 firefighters were deployed.
The spokesman said the fire was extinguished shortly before noon and no one was injured.
Construction and decorative materials were damaged by the fire and the outer walls near the roof were blackened.
According to the Macau fire department, construction workers were allowed to return to the site after 1pm.
Initial investigation showed that a giant decoration mounted on the outer wall of the top floor of the building caught fire as workers were carrying out welding work nearby, the fire department said.
“It was made of fibreglass. It emitted black smoke when it burst into flames,” the fire department’s spokesman said.
“Burning debris broke off from the decoration and fell to ground level during the incident. It was extinguished by our colleagues on the ground.”
He said initial investigation showed there was no damage to the interior of the building under construction.
The fire broke out on the top floor of the building at the phase two site of Galaxy Macau where construction is in progress, the Galaxy Entertainment Group confirmed.
The group said all construction workers were safely evacuated with no injury reported and the group is working closely with relevant parties for further investigation related to the fire.
“This incident will not affect the construction progress of phase two,” the group said in a press release.
A spokeswoman said the HK$19.6-billion phase two project was scheduled to be completed midway through the year.
She said the Galaxy Hotel phase one, opened in 2011, was not affected
