A deadly fire has claimed the lives of at least 13 individuals in Hong Kong’s high-rise residential buildings. The devastating blaze, which erupted at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in the Tai Po district, has prompted a massive response from 767 firefighters striving to contain the flames. The complex, housing approximately 4,600 residents with close to 2,000 flats, witnessed the fire outbreak at 2:51 pm local time on Wednesday. The inferno has engulfed multiple buildings within the eight-tower, 31-storey compound.
Despite ongoing efforts by firefighters to control the fire, numerous flats remain fully ablaze, with the death toll currently standing at 13. Witnesses reported explosions and sparks emanating from the burning structures, causing a frantic evacuation. As a result of the fire, several schools in the Tai Po district will remain closed the following day, as per the Hong Kong Education Bureau. Education psychologists have been deployed to assist affected students at temporary shelters in the area.
Tragically, firefighter Ho Wai-ho lost his life battling the flames, prompting deep condolences from Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, Tang Ping-keung. The situation remains critical as the fire persists late into the night, with an unknown number of individuals still trapped inside the buildings. Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed his sympathies to the families of the victims and called for concerted efforts to extinguish the fire and minimize further casualties and damages.
The fire at Wang Fuk Court was first reported at 2:51 pm local time and rapidly escalated to higher blaze levels, necessitating a massive firefighting response. The housing complex’s structure comprises eight towering blocks, accommodating over 4,600 residents across nearly 2,000 apartments. Local authorities have relocated over 1,000 individuals to nearby shelters for safety.
Residents, like Harry Cheung, recounted harrowing experiences of witnessing the fire’s rapid spread, prompting urgent evacuations and uncertainty about returning home. The fire at Wang Fuk Court, situated in Tai Po, a suburban area in northern Hong Kong, has drawn a significant emergency response, with 767 firefighters, 57 ambulances, and 400 police officers engaged in the operation.
During a press briefing, Hong Kong officials confirmed the tragic loss of 13 lives in the fire, revising earlier injury reports. The toll included nine fatalities at the scene and six succumbing to injuries in hospitals. The number of injured individuals has been updated to 15, down from initial estimates. The situation remains dire, with emergency services striving to contain the blaze and mitigate its impact on residents and the community.