Shocking images of Hong-Kong residential buildings engulfed in thick smoke have emerged following a devastating fire that swept through multiple structures in the Chinese-administered territory around 2:51 pm local time.
The blaze erupted at Wang Fuk Court, a sizable public housing complex consisting of eight residential blocks housing nearly 2,000 units in Tai Po, a suburban district of Hong Kong near the mainland China border with a population of approximately 300,000.
Tragically, the fire has resulted in the loss of at least thirteen lives, including one firefighter, while three individuals are reported to be in critical condition. Authorities in Hong Kong have set up temporary shelters for affected residents of the Wang Fuk Court housing complex.
The fire occurred at Wang Fuk Court, a residential complex comprising 2,000 units spread across eight blocks, where a significant number of blocks were engulfed in flames. This complex accommodates around 4,600 residents and falls under the government’s subsidized home ownership scheme, being occupied since 1983.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and the structures caught in the blaze, many of which were covered in bamboo scaffolding held together with nylon fasteners common in Hong Kong, have raised challenges for firefighters. The severity of the fire prompted the Hong Kong government to raise it to level 5, the highest alert level, leading to evacuations of neighboring estates and road closures by the Transport Department, including sections of Tai Po Road.
Over 700 firefighters, supported by 128 fire engines, 57 ambulances, and 400 police officers, are actively engaged in combating the fire. Residents like Y.Y. Chan, aged 68, expressed shock and anxiety, despite the fire being contained in his block, emphasizing the emotional toll of the incident.
Another resident, Harry Cheung, 66, a long-time resident of Block Two, recounted hearing a loud noise before witnessing the fire outbreak, prompting him to hastily pack his belongings. Uncertainty looms over displaced residents like Cheung, highlighting the immediate challenges they face in finding temporary accommodation amidst the crisis.