At least 13 people have been killed after a massive fire tore through a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, in what authorities are calling one of the city’s deadliest blazes in years.
More than 700 firefighters are battling the inferno at Wang Fuk Court, a public housing complex home to around 4,600 residents across nearly 2,000 flats. Officials have upgraded the incident to level five, the highest category of emergency in Hong Kong’s fire response system.
The blaze broke out on Wednesday afternoon, rapidly spreading along bamboo scaffolding that surrounded the building as part of renovation work.
Authorities have revised the number of injured down to 15, with three in critical condition, one in serious condition, and another in a stable condition, the Hong Kong government said.
Among those killed is a firefighter who was battling the blaze, according to the Hong Kong Fire Services Department.
Former district councillor Herman Yiu Kwan-ho told local media that at least 13 residents remain trapped inside the burning towers, while police have evacuated nearby buildings and opened a casualty hotline.
Thick grey smoke and intense flames were seen engulfing several storeys of the 31-floor complex as emergency crews used aerial ladders to rescue residents.
Photographs and videos shared online show the fire spreading up the exterior of the towers, with firefighters aiming high-pressure hoses from multiple angles.
Authorities have opened temporary shelters for displaced residents as the rescue operation continues late into the night.
Officials said the cause of the fire remains under investigation but confirmed that renovation materials on scaffolding may have contributed to its rapid spread.
The Wang Fuk Court complex, located in northern Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, is among the city’s largest housing estates.