Introduction:After the full reopening of borders, Hong Kong has become a popular travel destination for mainland tourists, especially cafés like %Arabica in Kennedy Town that offer both Instagram-worthy backdrops and sea views. Recently, however, a street lamp just outside the café suddenly emitted smoke, made a loud noise, and sent parts flying, injuring a mainland tourist on the head. This article details the incident, the official investigation results, analyzes whether the lamp post actually exploded, and covers subsequent on-site measures to help readers stay informed and aware of safety precautions.
Since the full resumption of travel between Hong Kong and the mainland, the number of visitors has noticeably increased. Many tourists, in addition to sampling local cuisine and shopping, also include popular “Instagram spots” on their must-visit lists. Among them, %Arabica, located by the waterfront in Kennedy Town on Hong Kong Island’s western side, is renowned for its minimalist white architecture and proximity to the “Sky Mirror,” consistently ranking high on various social media recommendation lists and attracting countless travelers who come specifically for photos.
However, not long ago, a startling accident occurred right outside this much-talked-about café. According to media reports, around 7 p.m. that afternoon, near Davis Street close to the Kennedy Town waterfront, a street lamp suddenly began to emit smoke, followed by a loud noise resembling an explosion. Wires inside the lamp post became exposed, and parts flew off. At that moment, a mainland tourist happened to be passing by and was unable to dodge in time, getting hit on the head by flying debris and falling to the ground injured. Several witnesses at the scene immediately called for emergency assistance.
Firefighters arrived promptly and found the injured tourist conscious, then arranged for an ambulance to take him to Queen Mary Hospital for treatment. The incident occurred right in front of %Arabica’s popular photo spot, which is usually crowded with visitors, many holding the café’s signature coffee while taking pictures, making the area particularly busy.
Some netizens at the scene shared that they witnessed the lamp post shatter with their own eyes. A loud “bang” startled everyone nearby, creating a tense atmosphere. Photos from the scene show that the lower part of the affected lamp post had its wire cover blown off, clearly dislodged from its original position. Following the incident, authorities immediately cordoned off the section of Davis Street between Gage Street and Kennedy Town New Praya for investigation, reopening it around 9 p.m. that same evening.
The Highways Department responded to media inquiries by stating that after receiving the report, the contractor responsible for street lamp maintenance and repair dispatched personnel to inspect the site. Upon a detailed examination of the interior of the lamp post (No. 39937), it was confirmed that the lamp post did not explode. The department further analyzed that the incident might be related to the lamp post’s terminal cover, suspecting that an unidentified gas caused the cover to pop out, which in turn loosened the lamp post’s housing. However, after inspection, the terminal, power supply wires, and all components were found undamaged, and the lamp post remains operational.
Additionally, the Gas Company indicated that preliminary assessments suggest the incident was not gas-related. Based on recommendations from firefighters on-site, the authorities have temporarily shut down the entire set of street lamps on the same circuit as the affected lamp post to allow further investigation into the cause and to implement any necessary follow-up measures.
Although the incident did not result in serious injuries or fatalities, it serves as a reminder to tourists taking photos at popular spots to not only be mindful of surrounding crowds and terrain but also to pay attention to the safety condition of nearby facilities, in order to avoid being affected by sudden incidents. For网红景点 (internet-famous attractions), safety management is an aspect that must not be overlooked.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
