Deadly High-Rise Inferno Claims Multiple Lives in Hong Kong
A devastating fire has ripped through a residential high-rise complex in Hong Kong, claiming at least four lives and leaving an unknown number of people trapped within the burning building. The tragedy unfolded at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po district, with emergency services confirming multiple casualties and critical injuries.
Emergency Response and Casualty Details
The Fire Services Department confirmed that four individuals have died in the blaze, while two people are fighting for their lives with severe burns. Among the injured are several firefighters who bravely tackled the rapidly spreading flames. Police initially reported eight casualties, though the exact number continues to be assessed as rescue operations proceed.
The South China Morning Post identified that one of the deceased was a firefighter, highlighting the dangers faced by emergency responders. The scale of the disaster became apparent as video footage revealed at least five buildings within the complex being consumed by fire, with thick grey smoke billowing from the 31-storey towers that contain approximately 2,000 apartments.
Scaffolding Fuels Rapid Blaze Spread
Investigators believe the fire gained its destructive momentum by spreading across bamboo scaffolding erected around the building's exterior. The blaze ignited at 2:51pm local time and quickly escalated, trapping residents within the subsidised home ownership complex that has been occupied since 1983.
Firefighters deployed ladder appliances to direct water streams onto the intense flames from elevated positions, while emergency services worked desperately to control the situation. The use of bamboo scaffolding, while common throughout Hong Kong for construction and renovation projects, has raised safety concerns that prompted government action earlier this year to phase out its use in public projects.
Tai Po's location in northern Hong Kong, near the border with mainland China's Shenzhen city, added complexity to the emergency response. The disaster has reignited discussions about building safety standards in densely populated urban areas, particularly regarding temporary structures that can accelerate fire spread in high-rise developments.
