Fiery Jordan Restaurant Emergency: Blaze Sparks Near Busy Nathan-Austin Junction

HONG KONG — A sudden kitchen fire broke out at a restaurant in the heart of Jordan on Thursday morning, October 29, 2026 sending dense plumes of dark smoke streaming onto the street and triggering localized traffic closures near one of Kowloon’s busiest commercial hubs.

Emergency services responded around 9:30 a.m. following multiple frantic calls reporting heavy smoke pouring from the eatery, located near the busy intersection of Nathan Road and Austin Road.

As grey and black smoke billowed onto the surrounding sidewalks, panicked diners and staff evacuated the premises to safety on Nathan Road. Pedestrians in the area hurried away from the neighborhood block as odor and smoke filled the morning air.

Fire crews arrived at the scene shortly after the initial emergency calls. Firefighters deployed hose jets to target the blaze, bringing the flames under control and fully extinguishing the fire shortly thereafter. Thankfully, authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported, and all patrons and restaurant workers managed to escape unharmed.

The incident caused significant mid-morning disruptions along key traffic arteries. The Transport Department temporarily closed all eastbound lanes on Austin Road between Nathan Road and Cox's Road, along with the slow lane on southbound Nathan Road, causing severe congestion heading toward Tsim Sha Tsui. Nearby transit access points were also temporarily restricted as safety crews cleared residual smoke.

Preliminary investigations by the Fire Services Department indicate that the fire originated inside the kitchen's exhaust hood system. Traffic along Nathan and Austin roads slowly resumed as emergency personnel cleared the scene.

Building management and city safety officials have reminded surrounding commercial food establishments to maintain regular inspection schedules for their ventilation systems to prevent grease buildup. Local business operators praised the rapid response of emergency personnel, noting that swift action prevented the fire from spreading to neighboring shops along the densely populated corridor.