A massive fire ripped through multiple high-rise residential blocks in Hong Kong’s northern Tai Po district on Wednesday, as authorities struggled to bring the blaze under control.
The fire shocked the Chinese financial hub, which has some of the world’s most densely populated and tallest apartment blocks.
Hours after the fire started in the northern Tai Po district, flames and thick smoke still engulfed the 32-storey towers where many people were believed trapped inside. Rescue workers swarmed the site as shocked inhabitants watched on.
The cause of the blaze was not immediately known, but it was fanned by green construction mesh and bamboo scaffolding, a mainstay of traditional Chinese architecture but subject to a phase-out in Hong Kong since March for safety reasons.
Working through the night, firefighters were struggling to reach upper floors of the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, which has 2,000 apartments in eight blocks, due to the intense heat.
FIREFIGHTER AMONG THE DEAD
A firefighter was among those killed, Hong Kong leader John Lee told reporters. Some 900 people were in eight shelters.
“The priority is to extinguish the fire and rescue the residents who are trapped. The second is to support the injured. The third is to support and recover. Then, we’ll launch a thorough investigation,” Lee told reporters.
Sections of charred scaffolding fell from the burning blocks and flames could be seen inside apartments, sometimes belching out through windows into the night sky, casting an eerie orange glow on surrounding buildings.
