{
  "id": 3177201,
  "title": "Landslide kills 18 people in Hong Kong’s Sau Mau Ping – SCMP archive",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/landslide-kills-18-people-in-hong-kongs-sau-mau-ping-scmp-archive",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T03:15:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3364651/landslide-kills-18-people-hong-kongs-sau-mau-ping-scmp-archive"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On August 25, 1976, a devastating landslide struck the Sau Mau Ping Estate in Hong Kong, claiming the lives of at least 18 individuals, including four children. This tragedy occurred just a few blocks away from a slope that had previously collapsed on June 18, 1972, causing the deaths of 67 people. Fire Services teams and the Army worked tirelessly throughout the night to locate and rescue those buried under the tons of mud that engulfed half of Block 9, which housed around 1,200 residents.\n\nGovernor Sir Murray MacLehose arrived at the estate shortly after the disaster to assess the damage and communicate with rescue workers and affected families. Sixteen people were injured in the landslide, with six individuals recovering in the United Christian Hospital in Kun Tong. The landslide buried ten flats on the rear of the ground floor and ten shops on the front of the block, causing significant damage and burying people in their homes and businesses.\n\nMrs Chow Kwan Kit-kam, a housewife living on the third floor, recounted the terrifying experience, likening the sound of the landslide to thunder. She described how the bed in her flat rocked violently, causing her to believe there had been an earthquake. Mrs Chow also noted that babies in neighboring flats cried uncontrollably, leaving her unsure of how to comfort them.\n\nThe Divisional Fire Officer for East Kowloon, Mr. Lee Kwok-choi, reported that 60 firemen and all rescue vehicles from East Kowloon were dispatched to the scene. However, traffic congestion forced one of the rescue vehicles from Tsimshatsui to bypass the city via the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and ferry to Kun Tong, extending the response time. The rescue operation was further complicated by continuous rain, which raised concerns about potential further landslides.\n\nBlock 9 and Block 15 were deemed structurally sound and safe by the Chief Maintenance Surveyor of the Housing Department, Mr. R.A. Bates. Tenants residing on the fourth floor and above in Block 9, as well as those on the second floor and above in Block 15, were advised not to return to their homes overnight. Those whose flats were buried, as well as tenants in both blocks who chose to evacuate, were provided with temporary accommodation in a Kowloon Bay factory estate. The Social Welfare Department's Emergency Relief Team distributed hot meals and essential supplies to the affected families.\n\nAbout 30 food and hawking stalls operating in a single-story market building atop the slope were ordered to clear their possessions, and the market itself was slated for demolition due to safety concerns. Emergency measures included the emptying of a 1,000-gallon fuel tank situated near the slope's edge and the trimming of the damaged slope.\n\nThe Home Affairs Department commended the efforts of Mutual Aid Committees and kaifong members in providing assistance to the affected tenants. These community groups sprang into action as soon as news of the disaster reached them, offering aid to the injured and helping tenants clear debris and mud. Many members of the committees and kaifongs continued to aid their neighbors throughout the day, showcasing exemplary citizenship in the face of adversity.",
  "summary": "This article was first published on August 26, 1976. Tragedy hits Sau Mau Ping At least seven people, including four children, were killed by the landslide that hit Sau Mau Ping Estate yesterday (August 25, 1976). Yesterday’s disaster was only a few blocks away from a slope which slipped on June 18, 1972, killing 67 people. Fire Services teams, assisted by the Army, spent the night under search…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
        "title": "Want to keep a big dog in Hong Kong? Experts share what you should know",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/want-to-keep-a-big-dog-in-hong-kong-experts-share-what-you-should-know",
        "published": "2026-08-25T00:30:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}