A devastating blaze swept through a cluster of high-rise residential towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, killing at least 13 people and injuring many others in one of the city’s deadliest fires in years.
The fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court, an eight-block housing complex currently undergoing major renovations, shortly before 3 p.m,, according to dw.com
Thick smoke, intense flames and falling debris quickly turned the scene into chaos, as firefighters battled the fast-spreading inferno fueled by bamboo scaffolding and green construction netting that wrapped the buildings’ exteriors.
According to Chou Wing-yin of the Fire Services Department, emergency crews handled 28 casualties in total. Nine victims died at the scene, Six others were rushed to hospitals in critical condition, and four of them later succumbed to their injuries.
Hong Kong media reported that one firefighter was among the deceased. The fire, initially reported at 2:51 p.m., was rapidly escalated from a No. 4 alarm to a No. 5 alarm—the highest level—as flames engulfed multiple towers.
More than 128 fire trucks and 57 ambulances were dispatched. Still, the extreme temperatures and collapsing scaffolding made rescue efforts perilous.
Deputy Fire Services Director Derek Armstrong Chan described the situation as dire — “Debris and scaffolding are falling. The temperature inside the buildings is extremely high. It’s difficult for crews to enter and go upstairs,” he said.
Reports early on suggested that several residents — many believed to be elderly — were trapped inside the 31-storey towers, which contain about 2,000 apartments. While the full extent of entrapment remains unclear, terrified residents described watching the flames spread uncontrollably.
“I dare not leave, and I don’t know what to do,” one resident told AFP, pleading for authorities to support those left homeless as a result of the blaze.
Live footage throughout the evening showed columns of smoke towering above the complex, with bright flames visible through multiple floors even after nightfall.
Authorities have closed nearby roads, including sections of a major highway, as firefighting operations continue.
The Fire Services Department urged people living nearby to stay indoors, keep windows shut, and remain calm.
Tai Po, located near the border with Shenzhen, is a typically quiet suburban district — a stark contrast to the devastation now gripping the community.
