At least 13 people have lost their lives and dozens more have been injured after a massive fire swept through multiple residential tower blocks in Hong Kong.
Authorities said the blaze continued to rage through more than six of the 31-storey buildings on Wednesday night, with several occupants still trapped inside.
The incident was classified as a five-alarm fire, Hong Kong’s highest emergency alert, prompting the deployment of nearly 800 firefighters and 128 fire engines.
Major roads, including key highways around the complex, were shut down as crews battled the flames.
Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of fire services operations, explained that extreme conditions were hampering rescue efforts, with burning debris and collapsing scaffolding making the towers too dangerous to enter.
“The temperature inside the buildings concerned is very high. It’s difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations,” he said.
Two victims were reported to be in critical condition with severe burns, and a 37-year-old firefighter, Ho Wai-ho, was among those killed.
The blaze, Hong Kong’s deadliest in decades, ignited on Wednesday afternoon at the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po, located in the northern New Territories.
The development consists of eight residential towers, home to about 4,800 people across approximately 2,000 flats.
Dramatic footage from the scene showed fire spreading rapidly across the blocks, with flames bursting from windows on nearly every floor.
On nearby pavements, distraught residents watched in shock as thick smoke billowed into the night sky.
“There’s nothing that can be done about the property. We can only hope that everyone, no matter old or young, can return safely,” a local resident with the surname So told Agence France-Presse. “It’s heartbreaking. We’re worried there are people trapped inside.”
Another resident, a 71-year-old man who identified himself as Wong, wept as he said his wife remained inside one of the towers.
The Wang Fuk Court buildings are among the tallest structures in Tai Po, one of the most densely populated regions in Hong Kong. Census data cited by CNN indicates a significant elderly population within the complex.
Hong Kong authorities said all relevant departments were coordinating rescue and support operations for affected residents.
Community halls were opened as temporary shelters, and by Wednesday night, at least one had reached full capacity. Police also established a hotline for casualty information.
China’s president, Xi Jinping, sent his condolences to the victims, according to state media reports.
Preliminary information suggested the fire may have started in bamboo and mesh scaffolding surrounding the buildings before spreading inside, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims voiced concerns about recurring scaffold-related fires, referencing similar incidents earlier in the year.
Bamboo scaffolding remains a common feature on Hong Kong construction sites, although officials have said it is being gradually phased out for safety reasons.
In the wake of the tragedy, several public forums and campaign activities scheduled ahead of the 7 December elections have been suspended.
