Hong Kong’s Jumbo Floating Restaurant catches fire before opening, kills 34 – SCMP archive

South China Morning Post - Oct 31, 2026

This story was first published on October 31, 1971. Aberdeen was yesterday (October 30, 1971) rocked by a tremendous explosion followed by fire which swept through the $14 million Jumbo Restaurant, killing 13 and injuring at least 42 others on board. It happened so quickly that within five minutes, fire engulfed the four-decked floating restaurant, reducing it to a charred hulk. Hundreds of people leapt for life from the decks and from the pagoda-shaped towers of the palatial restaurant. It was...

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