A fire destroyed more than 10 boats anchored at a Hong Kong typhoon shelter and five people suffered minor injuries.

Broadcaster ATV said a fishing boat that first caught fire drifted to the other boats and spread the blaze.

Television footage showed black smoke rising next to a high-rise building on the east side of Victoria Harbour.

The fire started around 2pm  local time and might have been caused by natural gas used for cooking on one fishing boat, a fire services department spokesperson told local media.

Many fishermen who live on house boats park their boats in the harbour to celebrate the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.