New Delhi: At least 55 people have died and hundreds remain unaccounted for after a massive fire tore through seven high-rise residential buildings in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, officials said. The inferno, one of the city’s deadliest in decades, began Wednesday afternoon at Wang Fuk Court, an eight-building estate undergoing maintenance, and quickly spread through the densely packed complex.
Police have arrested three men in connection with the blaze, citing “gross negligence” after flammable materials, including foam packaging left during repairs, reportedly helped the fire escalate uncontrollably. Authorities also conducted searches at a separate neighbourhood, seizing documents linked to the suspects.
Firefighters battled the blaze through the night, though flames remained visible in some apartments early Thursday. Smoke and fire from the 31-storey blocks rose high into the sky, with debris and charred scaffolding falling onto nearby areas. Rescue teams faced challenges reaching certain floors where residents had requested help, hampering evacuation efforts.
Many victims were elderly, with residents noting that closed windows and ongoing maintenance delayed awareness of the fire. Among the dead was a 37-year-old firefighter who perished while on duty. Over 900 residents sought refuge in temporary shelters, while 56 people remain hospitalized, including 16 in critical condition.
City leader John Lee confirmed that 279 people were initially reported missing, though authorities later established contact with some of them. Emergency services have continued evacuation operations, with nearby highways temporarily closed to facilitate rescue work.
Witnesses described the scene as devastating. A resident said that despite losing property, the priority was the safety of family members, while others expressed concern for neighbours unable to move quickly due to age or mobility issues.
Chinese President Xi Jinping extended condolences to the victims, including the fallen firefighter. Lee said all government departments were mobilized to assist affected residents and address the aftermath of the tragedy.
Fires of this magnitude were once more common in Hong Kong’s densely populated areas, but improved safety measures over recent decades have made such disasters increasingly rare. Investigators continue to determine the exact cause of the blaze, with wind and debris thought to have contributed to its rapid spread across multiple buildings.
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
