Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, announced that a tragic fire at a high-rise residential complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong, resulted in 36 reported deaths and 279 individuals reported missing. Lee also mentioned that 29 people were currently receiving treatment in hospitals.
The fire, which started in the housing complex and was later brought under control, led to the evacuation of around 700 people to temporary shelters. The incident, reported in the afternoon, escalated to a Level 5 alarm, indicating the highest level of severity, as confirmed by the fire department.
Challenges faced by firefighters included extreme temperatures, falling debris, and scaffolding. The cause of the fire, which began externally at the scaffolding of a building before spreading, was not immediately determined. Strong winds likely contributed to the rapid spread to adjacent buildings.
The Wang Fuk housing complex, comprising eight blocks with nearly 2,000 apartments accommodating about 4,800 residents, witnessed a devastating blaze. Tragically, among the casualties were a firefighter who lost his life and another who suffered from heat exhaustion.
Emergency responders, including 128 fire trucks and 57 ambulances, were deployed to the scene to combat the fierce flames. Local reports suggested that many trapped residents were elderly individuals, adding to the complexity of the rescue efforts.
The incident drew attention to the use of bamboo scaffolding in construction projects in Hong Kong, a practice that authorities have expressed safety concerns about and are considering phasing out from public projects.
Tai Po, located in the New Territories near the Hong Kong-mainland China border, witnessed a nightmarish scene of multiple buildings engulfed in flames, with firefighters struggling to contain the inferno. Amid the chaos, residents faced the heartbreaking reality of losing their homes and possessions in the devastating fire.
