A minimum of 13 individuals have been killed in a hearth that has engulfed a number of high-rise condominium buildings in Hong Kong, authorities say, with some residents reported trapped inside.
Flames took maintain in a number of condominium blocks of the Wang Fuk Court docket property in Tai Po, a district within the northern a part of town, on Wednesday afternoon earlier than engulfing different elements of the buildings.
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Firefighters battled the blaze into the evening as thick, black smoke billowed from the 31-storey towers and orange flames lit up the sky.
9 individuals have been declared useless on the scene and 4 despatched to hospital have been later confirmed useless, mentioned the Hearth Companies Division, which upgraded the blaze to a stage 5 alarm – the very best stage – after dusk.
A minimum of 15 individuals have been injured, and native media reported that some residents have been believed to be trapped contained in the buildings.
Chan Derek Armstrong, deputy director of Hong Kong’s Hearth Companies Division, instructed reporters that the hearth unfold quickly and authorities acquired quite a few requires assist from residents.
“Particles and scaffolding of the affected buildings are falling down, so [that poses] further hazard to our frontline personnel,” he mentioned, including that the temperature contained in the buildings remained very excessive.
“It’s fairly troublesome for us to enter the buildings and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations,” he mentioned.
‘Individuals trapped inside’
“There’s nothing that may be executed concerning the property. We will solely hope that everybody, irrespective of previous or younger, can return safely,” a Tai Po resident surnamed So, 57, instructed the AFP information company close to the scene of the hearth.
“It’s heartbreaking. We’re anxious there are individuals trapped inside.”
Reporting from the scene of the blaze, journalist Laura Westbrook instructed Al Jazeera that when the hearth began, it unfold by means of the bamboo scaffolding to different blocks within the housing property.
“As I’ve been standing right here, I can odor the smoke and infrequently we hear these pops, as among the particles falls to the bottom,” Westbrook mentioned.
Wang Fuk Court docket is one in all many high-rise housing complexes in Hong Kong, a metropolis that is among the most densely populated areas on this planet.
Harry Cheung, 66, who has lived at Block Two in one of many complexes for greater than 40 years, mentioned he heard “a really loud noise” at round 2:45pm native time (06:45 GMT) and noticed a hearth erupt in a close-by block.
“I instantly went again to pack up my issues,” he instructed the Reuters information company. “I don’t even understand how I really feel proper now. I’m simply serious about the place I’m going to sleep tonight as a result of I in all probability gained’t have the ability to return residence.”
Bamboo scaffolding
Individuals gathered on a close-by overhead walkway, watching in dismay and taking footage as smoke billowed from the buildings.
A few of the buildings have been clad in bamboo scaffolding, with social media posts from residents saying the items had been below renovation for round a yr.
Frames of scaffolding have been seen tumbling to the bottom as firefighters battled the blaze, whereas scores of fireplace engines and ambulances lined the highway beneath the event, witnesses instructed Reuters.
Firefighters deployed 128 fireplace vans and 57 ambulances to the scene.
Authorities arrange a casualty hotline and opened two short-term shelters in close by neighborhood centres for evacuated residents. Sections of a close-by freeway additionally have been closed by the firefighting operation.
“Residents close by are suggested to remain indoors, shut their doorways and home windows, and keep calm,” the Hearth Companies Division mentioned. “Members of the general public are additionally suggested to keep away from going to the realm affected by the hearth.”
Tai Po, positioned close to the border with mainland China, is a longtime suburban district with a inhabitants of about 300,000 individuals. Data present the housing complicated consisted of eight blocks with virtually 2,000 flats housing about 4,800 individuals.
