According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), in just under two hours, from 1:10 PM to 3:00 PM on October 13, 2026, the Hong Kong Fire Services Department received 179 reports of people trapped in elevators and 40 reports of fire alarm systems being activated across multiple areas in Kowloon and the New Territories.
As for the cause, Hong Kong electric utility CLP Power stated that it recorded a brief sudden voltage dip at approximately 1:09 PM on the 400 kV line connecting Lai Chi Kok with Tsz Wan Shan in Kowloon.
The incident did not cause a complete power outage but caused lights to flicker and triggered voltage-sensitive equipment, such as elevators, to automatically activate their safety stop mechanism.
Due to the large number of simultaneous incidents, the Fire Services Department had to mobilize additional personnel and dispatch vehicles from other districts for support. Mr. Yung Wai-ming, a representative of the department, said the longest rescue time for a single elevator entrapment was 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Four women aged 68 to 71 felt unwell after being trapped. Three were taken to the hospital due to discomfort and difficulty breathing.
CLP Power is investigating the cause of the incident and has apologized to residents for the inconvenience caused.
The incident affected residential and commercial buildings, hospitals, shopping malls, metro railway station facilities, and schools.
