HONG KONG, Nov 26: A massive fire tore through multiple high-rise apartment buildings in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, killing 13 people, the city’s Fire Services Department reported.
Nine victims were declared dead at the scene, while four others died later in hospital. Approximately 700 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters as the blaze raged.
The fire began mid-afternoon and rapidly spread along bamboo scaffolding and construction netting surrounding the buildings, prompting authorities to raise the alarm to level 5, the highest severity, after nightfall.
Video footage from the scene showed at least five buildings close together engulfed in flames, with thick smoke and bright fire visible through numerous apartment windows.
Lo Hiu-fung, a Taipo District Council member, said that most of the residents trapped in the blaze were elderly, highlighting the heightened vulnerability of the occupants.
Bamboo scaffolding, commonly used in Hong Kong for construction and renovation, contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
The Hong Kong government had announced plans earlier this year to phase out bamboo scaffolding for public projects due to safety concerns.
Firefighters worked throughout the night to contain the blaze, coordinating evacuations and rescue operations. The incident underscores ongoing safety challenges in high-density residential areas undergoing construction or renovation. (AP)
