WEB DESK: Forty-four people have lost their lives, and 279 others remain unaccounted for following a devastating blaze that tore through a housing estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong. The fire, which rapidly engulfed bamboo scaffolding on seven residential blocks, left a trail of destruction and chaos.
Among those hospitalized, 45 individuals are reported to be in serious condition, according to the Fire Services Department.
The fire was first reported at 2:51 PM on Wednesday and swiftly escalated into a massive inferno. Thick plumes of dark smoke rose high above Wang Fuk Court as the flames spread uncontrollably across seven of the estate’s eight blocks.
Authorities confirmed receiving numerous emergency calls from residents trapped within the building where the fire originated, including reports of a man and a woman found unconscious and suffering from burns.
Initially categorized as a No. 1 alarm fire, the incident’s severity was upgraded to No. 4 by 3:34 PM, and by 6:22 PM, it had reached the top-level No. 5.
Videos from the scene depict the bamboo scaffolding around several flats engulfed in flames, with sections of the burning green scaffolding mesh collapsing to the ground below. These structures are typically used to facilitate construction and renovation work.
Authorities are investigating multiple potential causes of the disaster, pledging a comprehensive inquiry that will include a criminal investigation into the incident.
