A devastating blaze at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po area has claimed the lives of at least 13 people, including a firefighter, while 15 others have sustained serious injuries. Bamboo scaffolding spread across seven of the eight blocks caught fire rapidly, leaving many residents trapped inside their flats.
Wang Fuk Court consists of eight blocks with more than 1,900 apartments. On Wednesday (26 November), thick black smoke was seen billowing into the sky, and the fire quickly spread across seven blocks of the complex.
Police reported receiving multiple alerts about people being trapped inside the burning buildings. One man and one woman were reportedly found unconscious and severely burnt.
The fire, initially classified as a “No. 1 alarm fire,” was upgraded to No. 4 at 3:34 pm and later to the highest level, No. 5, at 6:22 pm. Hong Kong grades fire severity on a scale from one to five, with higher numbers indicating greater intensity.
Footage from the scene showed bamboo scaffolding outside several units burnt down, with charred pieces of green netting scattered on the ground. Rescue operations are still ongoing.
Source: South China Morning Post
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