Deadly Hong kong Fire Claims 13 Lives, Traps Residents in high-Rise Complex
TAI PO, Hong Kong – A massive fire erupted Wednesday at a residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, leaving at least 13 people dead and 16 critically injured, according to the South China Morning Post. Emergency services are continuing to battle the blaze and work to rescue residents believed to be trapped within the 31-story buildings. A firefighter is among those confirmed dead.
The fire, reported at Wang Fuk Court – a complex comprised of eight residential blocks housing approximately 2,000 apartments – quickly escalated, prompting authorities to raise the alert level to 4, the second-highest designation, within an hour of the initial call at 2:51 pm local time. Images from the scene depict thick, gray smoke billowing from the structures as firefighters struggle to contain the flames. Several of the buildings were undergoing renovation work and were partially covered in bamboo scaffolding, a common construction practice in Hong Kong.
RTHK reports that members of the fire service sustained injuries while attempting to extinguish the fire. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Authorities have not yet released details regarding the number of people still unaccounted for, but confirmed that rescue efforts are ongoing to reach those trapped inside the affected buildings.
Wang Fuk Court is a public housing estate managed by the Hong Kong Housing Authority,providing affordable housing for residents in the area. The incident raises concerns about fire safety regulations and the potential hazards posed by renovation work in densely populated residential areas.
