Shocking images of Hong Kong apartment blocks engulfed in thick smoke have emerged following a significant fire that swept through multiple buildings in the Chinese-administered territory around 2:51 pm local time.
The fire originated at Wang Fuk Court, a large public housing complex comprising eight residential blocks with nearly 2,000 units in Tai Po, a suburban district of Hong Kong near the mainland China border, housing around 300,000 residents.
Tragically, the blaze has resulted in the loss of at least thirteen lives, including one firefighter, with three individuals in critical condition. Hong Kong authorities have set up temporary shelters for affected residents of the Wang Fuk Court housing complex.
Wang Fuk Court, a residential complex consisting of 2,000 units spread across eight blocks and accommodating 4,600 people, has been under the government’s subsidized home ownership scheme since 1983.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. The buildings affected by the fire, adorned with bamboo scaffolding and nylon fasteners typical in Hong Kong construction, have led to the fire being escalated to level 5, the most severe level by the Hong Kong government, prompting evacuations and road closures in the area.
Over 700 firefighters, supported by 128 fire engines, 57 ambulances, and 400 police officers, are on the scene battling the blaze. Residents, like 68-year-old Y.Y. Chan and 66-year-old Harry Cheung, have expressed shock and concern for their future as they witness the devastation and uncertainty caused by the fire.