Massive Fire Leaves Hundreds Unaccounted
Hong Kong tower block inferno kills at least 36, with nearly 300 missing as massive rescue underway.
A devastating fire tore through several high-rise residential towers in Hong Kong on Wednesday, killing at least 36 people and leaving nearly 300 residents unaccounted for, according to early emergency-services estimates. Authorities described it as one of the deadliest urban fires in the city’s recent history.
The blaze began on the bamboo scaffolding surrounding multiple apartment blocks in the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po, a densely populated district in the northern part of the city. Fueled by dry materials and strong winds, flames spread rapidly up the exteriors of the buildings before engulfing multiple floors.
An AFP reporter on the scene described loud cracking sounds from burning bamboo as thick columns of smoke rose from at least five of the estate’s eight towers. The fire raged well into the night, filling the skyline with an orange glow.
“I can only pray everyone makes it out alive,” said Mr. So, a 57-year-old Tai Po resident watching from the street. “It’s heartbreaking. We fear so many people are still trapped.”
Massive emergency response
The government escalated the incident to a five-alarm fire, the highest alert level.
Authorities deployed an enormous rescue contingent, including:
- Around 800 firefighters
- 128 fire engines
- 400 police officers
- Specialized high-rise rescue units
Despite the scale of the response, officers at the scene said “firefighters aren’t able to go in” to several sections of the towers due to intense heat and structural instability.
A 37-year-old firefighter, who lost contact with his team for about 30 minutes, was later found with severe burns and was pronounced dead after being rushed to hospital.
Hundreds feared missing
Police and emergency services confirmed 36 fatalities, while nearly 300 residents have yet to be located, raising fears the death toll may rise significantly.
Hospitals reported at least 15 additional injuries, including several in critical condition.
Authorities also evacuated two residential buildings in a nearby estate as a precaution. Community centers were converted into emergency shelters, and a casualty hotline was opened for families seeking relatives.
Residents trapped, messaging for help
Throughout the afternoon and evening, trapped residents posted pleas for help on social media, sending photos and messages from smoke-filled apartments as they awaited rescue. Some reported blocked stairwells and intense heat preventing them from escaping.
“I dare not leave,” said a resident in his 40s. “The fire is not under control. I don’t know what I can do.”
Nearby highways were shut down to clear access for emergency vehicles, and authorities instructed residents to stay indoors, close windows, and avoid the area.
Growing concern over scaffolding fires
The fire is the latest in a string of scaffold-related blazes in Hong Kong. The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims expressed “deep concern,” noting similar incidents in April, May, and October.
Hong Kong’s skyline is filled with some of the world’s tallest and most densely packed apartment blocks. While fire safety has improved over recent decades, the scale of the latest disaster has prompted renewed scrutiny of building safety and the widespread use of bamboo scaffolding.
Officials have not yet commented on the possible cause of the fire, and investigations are ongoing.
