Thirteen people were killed in a fire that spread to several multi-story buildings in an apartment complex in Hong Kong, the city’s fire department said on Wednesday. Nine died on the spot, and four succumbed to their injuries in the hospital, journalists were told. About 700 people were moved to temporary shelters. The footage shows at least five buildings engulfed in flames at the same time, while smoke billows from numerous windows.
How the fire started
According to initial information, the fire started from bamboo scaffolding placed on the outside of the skyscraper, which allowed the flames to quickly spread to multiple floors. Local media reports that the fire spread like lightning, making it difficult for residents to evacuate and for firefighters to access. A Hong Kong government statement said the fire broke out at 2:51 p.m. local time, and emergency services responded immediately. Firefighters and rescue teams arrived immediately on the scene, while the police secured the surrounding streets and coordinated the evacuation of residents.
Local authorities are still trying to identify the victims and verify that all residents have been evacuated.
Fire in residential skyscrapers – a challenge for Hong Kong
The incident at Wang Fuk Court reopens the issue of the safety of residential high-rises in Hong Kong, particularly buildings with external scaffolding and older infrastructure. Bamboo scaffolding, although common in construction projects in the region, can pose a great risk in the event of a fire, as it allows the rapid transfer of flames from floor to floor.
Firefighters warned of the danger of thick smoke and high temperatures, which makes the evacuation and rescue of residents extremely demanding.
Emergency services are still working to contain the fire and are checking all buildings in the Wang Fuk Court complex to ensure no people remain trapped. The mayor of Hong Kong and local authorities have announced an investigation into the cause of the fire, and citizens are urged to be cautious and follow evacuation instructions.
Meanwhile, hospitals are on standby to receive additional injured, and fire crews from neighboring districts have been dispatched to help control the situation and prevent the fire from spreading to surrounding buildings.
(TYPE/Source: federalna.ba/Photo: X)
