A fire broke out at a high-floor unit in Hennessy Building, 488-490 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, on the morning of 25 August 2026, sending at least one elderly woman to hospital and prompting the evacuation of residents and people at a ground-floor bank.
Police received several reports of the fire before firefighters arrived and deployed one water jet and one breathing apparatus team. Online footage showed intense flames shooting from the unit’s windows, accompanied by heavy smoke. Star Headline reported that the unit was on the ninth floor and was subdivided into smaller rooms.
Reports differed on the number of people evacuated. They put the total at more than 50, 73, or more than 40 residents together with more than 10 people at the bank on the ground floor. The figures could not be reconciled from the available reports.
At least one elderly woman became unwell and was taken to hospital. i-CABLE News reported that she was 98 and may have inhaled smoke; the other reports described her only as an elderly woman.
The fire was reported extinguished later that morning, but the reported timing varied. One report said it was put out after about 30 minutes, while another said this happened at 12.27pm; i-CABLE News said firefighters brought it under control quickly.
The blaze also affected local transport. i-CABLE News reported that vehicles were temporarily unable to turn into Percival Street, while Star Headline said Happy Valley tram services were suspended. The duration of the disruption was not given.
The cause remained under investigation. Star Headline reported a preliminary suspicion of an electrical short circuit and said there was no sign of foul play, while Ming Pao and i-CABLE News reported that an external charger was suspected. None of these explanations had been confirmed.