A devastating fire swept through seven high-rise apartment buildings in a Hong Kong housing complex on Wednesday, killing at least two dozen people and leaving several others trapped inside, according to the city’s Fire Services Department.
More than 700 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters as rescue efforts continue through the night.
Flames Spread Rapidly Through Scaffolding
The fire erupted in the Tai Po district of the New Territories and spread rapidly across bamboo scaffolding and construction netting covering the exterior of the complex. The housing estate consists of eight residential blocks with nearly 2,000 apartments and approximately 4,800 residents, according to official records.
Videos circulating online showed multiple towers engulfed in flames, with bright orange fireballs and thick black smoke pouring out of windows as night fell. Firefighters on ladder trucks were seen battling the blaze from elevated positions.
Fire Upgraded to Highest-Level Alarm
The fire began in the mid-afternoon, and as the situation worsened, authorities raised the alert to a five-alarm fire, the highest severity level in Hong Kong. The blaze continued to burn late into the night, making rescue operations extremely challenging.
In a massive response effort, authorities deployed 128 fire trucks and 57 ambulances to the scene.
Firefighter Among the Dead
Fire Services Department Director Andy Yeung confirmed that one firefighter lost his life while attempting to extinguish the flames, and another is being treated for heat exhaustion.
Earlier, police said they had received multiple calls from people trapped inside the affected buildings, though the exact number remains unclear.
Many Trapped Residents Believed to Be Elderly
Local district council member Lo Hiu-fung told TVB that many of the trapped residents were believed to be elderly individuals who may have struggled to escape in time.
Authorities reported that nine victims were declared dead at the scene, while four others died at the hospital. At least 15 more people have been injured, and the toll may rise as search operations continue.
One of Hong Kong’s Most Severe Residential Fires in Recent Years
The scale and intensity of the blaze have made this incident one of Hong Kong’s most tragic residential fires in recent memory, raising urgent concerns about fire safety, building maintenance, and construction practices involving bamboo scaffolding.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are currently underway.