Hong Kong Fire Claims At Least 14 Lives, Traps Residents
TAI PO, Hong Kong – A large-scale fire erupted at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Tuesday, resulting in at least 14 confirmed fatalities and an undetermined number of injuries, many severe due to burns. Authorities received the initial fire alert at 2:51 pm local time.
The blaze engulfed multiple towers within the eight-block complex, which houses over two thousand residences. Firefighters are continuing rescue efforts, with reports indicating several individuals remain trapped inside the buildings. Tragically, one firefighter died while battling the flames, and others sustained injuries during firefighting operations.
The 32-story towers were partially covered in bamboo scaffolding – a construction practice still common in Hong Kong,making it one of the last places globally to widely utilize bamboo for this purpose.The extent of the impact on the buildings and the number of people inside remains unclear,according to Reuters.
The Hong Kong Fire Service has issued an advisory to nearby residents: “stay at home,close thier doors and windows and remain calm.”
Traffic disruptions are also in effect, with a section of Tai Po Road, a major Hong Kong highway, closed and bus routes diverted. This incident follows a similar fire last month in Hong Kong’s financial center, which injured four people due to scaffolding flames.
