Residents switch on their mobile phones in a shopping center in Yuen Long district after a power outage due to a fire at a power cable bridge on June 21, 2022. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – Authorities have found no evidence of vandalism, weather conditions or issues with electricity protection system for a June 21 fire at a power cable bridge in Yuen Long.

As per a detailed probe report submitted by CLP Power Hong Kong Limited, the fire at a CLP Power cable bridge near Wang Lok Street and the Spectra in Yuen Long may have been caused by the malfunctioning of an electrical installation, according to a government press release.

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The fire affected power supply to Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai and Tuen Mun areas, forcing many venues of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to close early that day. Many schools in Tin Shui Wai had to suspend classes the next day due to the power outage.

CLP Power's initial assessment shows that the incident was caused by a fire at the high-voltage cable or electrical and mechanical facilities in the cable bridge concerned.

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“The report points out that the cables concerned were in normal operation condition on the day of the incident and there is no evidence at this stage suggesting the incident was related to the electricity protection system, weather conditions or vandalism,” the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, which received the CLP Power probe report, said in a statement. 

The power company’s initial assessment shows that the incident was caused by a fire at the high-voltage cable or electrical and mechanical facilities in the cable bridge concerned, it said.

An in-depth investigation along this direction is under way, it added.

CLP Power completed the restoration of three sets of cables in the small hours of June 24, 27 and 28 respectively, and is now in the process of removing the cable bridge.

The improvement measures proposed by CLP Power mainly include applying fire-retardant coating to all cables in its cable bridges, enhancing security systems and fire protection devices, conducting risk assessment on the reliability of the cable bridges' electricity supply, reviewing relevant contingency measures and conducting drills.

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The government is examining the report and the technical details therein, and will request the power company to make clarifications or provide further information as required, said a government spokesman. 

Reiterating that the government is very concerned about the incident, the spokesman said the government has requested CLP Power to devise and implement improvement measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again.