Police on Wednesday launched an investigation after a six-metre-tall noise barrier along a road in Tsuen Wan caught fire.

Emergency personnel were called to Cheung Pei Shan Road near Shek Wai Kok Estate when the force received multiple fire reports at about 11am.

Firefighters took about half an hour to put out the flames.

Officers believe the blaze began beneath a footbridge near Shek Kuk House of Shek Wai Kok Estate, before spreading to the barrier.

Chief inspector Law Sai-to of the Tsuen Wan district crime unit said emergency personnel did not find any accelerant at the scene.

"During our investigations, we noticed some security cameras had captured the incident. However, since the location of the incident was accessible to anyone and was frequented by residents, and due to limited distance of the security cameras, the real cause of the fire is still under investigation," he said.

The force added that though a 40-metre stretch of the road was burnt, the noise barrier structure was not at risk of collapsing.

Videos posted online showed the structure engulfed in flames. "Wow, it's burning through the top," one driver in a video remarked.

Another said: "There's no way we can drive through this."

The Highways Department said it aims to fully reopen the road by early Thursday.
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Last updated: 2024-11-27 HKT 22:54