In a catastrophic fire, the worst in Hong Kong in the past three decades, at least 44 people lost their lives with around 300 still unaccounted for. This blaze ignited on Wednesday at a group of residential buildings in Tai Po district, covered in flammable bamboo scaffolding. The fire extended to nearly 2000 apartments.
According to local media, police have arrested three individuals on charges of involuntary manslaughter linked to this inferno. These arrests are directly connected to the fire incident.
Source: aajtak
(Photo: AP)
Blaze Spread by Bamboo Scaffolding
This massive fire erupted on Wednesday afternoon on the exterior bamboo scaffolding of a 32-story tower, undergoing repairs. The flames rapidly advanced through seven buildings in this residential complex of eight towers. Construction netting and prevailing winds hastened the blaze's climb and expansion, enveloping nearby buildings and leading to dense smoke over the New Territories.
Over 140 Fire Trucks and 60 Ambulances Deployed
Hundreds, including a significant number of elderly residents, were evacuated to safety. Burning scaffolding and debris continuously descended. Fire department units deployed more than 140 fire trucks and 60 ambulances to combat the flames. Approximately 900 individuals were moved to temporary shelters.
Source: aajtak
(Photo: AP)
Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee announced the launch of an initial investigation and confirmed that emergency teams are actively searching for the missing. He stated, 'Police and the Fire Services Department have established a special team to probe the fire's origins.' He further added that control over the fire was substantially achieved post-midnight.
Rescue Efforts Hampered by Temperature
Officials reported that at least 45 people remain hospitalized, several in critical condition. Fire commanders noted challenging relief efforts due to extreme temperatures inside the buildings. Fire Service Operations Deputy Director Derek Armstrong Chan commented, 'Debris and scaffolding in the affected buildings continuously fall. The internal temperature remains critically high, creating significant challenges in climbing upper floors to extinguish the fire and rescue residents.'
Source: aajtak
(Photo: AP)
Repairs Underway in the Buildings
The incident was classified as a Level-5 alert, Hong Kong's highest emergency category. Smoke continued to billow from several buildings through the evening. Firefighters utilized laddered fire trucks to aim water at higher floors, while police and paramedics evacuated surrounding streets.
China's President Xi Jinping paid tribute to a firefighter who lost their life during the operation and extended his condolences to the victims' families. This residential complex, comprising eight tall buildings constructed in the 1980s, was undergoing extensive renovations.
Source: aajtak
(Photo: Reuters)
Worst Fire Since 1996
Officials emphasized that the fire originated from bamboo scaffolding outside the tower and rapidly spread between structures due to strong winds. It is regarded as the deadliest fire incident in Hong Kong in decades. Previously, in November 1996, a fire in a commercial building in Kowloon raged for about 20 hours, leading to the deaths of 41 people.
