A fast-moving fire ripped through a cluster of high-rise apartment towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, killing at least 44 people and injuring at least 279 others.
The blaze began just before 3 p.m. local time (around midnight Mountain Time) at Wang Fuk Court — a public housing complex of nearly 2,000 apartments — and quickly spread across bamboo scaffolding that wrapped several of the buildings, The New York Times reported.
Fire continues to burn
Firefighters were still working to control parts of the fire by Thursday morning, with officials saying an untold number of residents remained trapped inside the 32-story towers.
A 37-year-old firefighter was among the dead. Hong Kong’s director of fire services, Andy Yeung, issued a release stating, “I am profoundly grieved at the loss of this dedicated and gallant fireman.”
Authorities said rescue efforts were hampered by falling debris and extreme heat inside the towers. Derek Armstrong Chan of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department said at a briefing that crews faced “extremely high temperatures” that made reaching upper floors nearly impossible.
Three men arrested
Hong Kong’s secretary for security, Chris Tang, said at a news conference that investigators are examining whether bamboo scaffolding and other building materials accelerated the spread of the flames.
Police are also looking into whether exterior materials — including polystyrene boards and protective netting — violated fire-safety standards.
CNN reported that three men connected to a construction company, two directors and a consultant, were arrested and accused of “gross negligence” after firefighters found flammable polystyrene boards blocking apartment windows.
Fire Services Director Andy Yeung said the boards were “extremely inflammable,” adding that crews saw the fire move unusually fast across the scaffolding and coverings.
“Their presence was unusual so we have referred the incident to the police for further enquiries,” Yeung said.
Rescue operations
Rescue operations remain difficult. Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of the fire service department, said extreme heat and falling debris continue to block access to upper floors. He noted that the tallest ladders reached only halfway up the towers.
Chan added, “There are still cases in the upper floor where we are still unable to reach. However, our control center is in touch with them by phone. Once we are able to reach the units in the upper floor, we will immediately bring them to safety.”
More than 1,200 fire and ambulance personnel have been deployed, according to the Times, and 29 people have been hospitalized, including at least seven in critical condition. Temporary shelters at community centers and a school are housing evacuees — many of them elderly residents who make up a significant portion of the complex.
Hong Kong’s deadliest fire
CNN reported that this is one of Hong Kong’s deadliest fire. The next deadliest was in 1997 when a fire ripped through a karaoke bar killing 17.
Bamboo scaffolding — widely used across the city — has drawn increasing scrutiny after playing a role in several recent fires. The New York Times reported in May that the government announced plans to phase out the material in favor of steel, citing fire-safety concerns.
Several residents told reporters that alarms failed to sound. One elderly resident, Chan Kwong-tak, told the South China Morning Post, “If someone was sleeping then, they were done,” after saying no alarms went off in his building.
Displaced residents
Fox News reported that thousands of residents have been displaced. The government opened temporary shelters in nearby community halls and schools, where many residents were seen arriving late into the night.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he activated the city’s Emergency Accident Monitoring and Support Center, per The New York Times.
China’s top leader, Xi Jinping also expressed condolences and urged for “all-out rescue efforts to minimize loss,” according to Xinhua, the country’s news agency.
Dozens are still gathering nearby, some are praying in silence and some are delivering water and food, per the BBC.
Authorities have not yet identified a cause of the fire. The number of those still trapped inside the towers remains unclear.
Chief Executive John Lee called the fire “a major disaster” and said the government is committed to holding those responsible accountable once the investigation is complete.
