Major Blaze Claims Lives in Hong Kong Residential Estate
A devastating fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Hong Kong's northern Tai Po district, resulting in four confirmed fatalities. The inferno engulfed several high-rise towers, sending thick plumes of grey smoke billowing into the sky as emergency services rushed to the scene.
Emergency Response and Casualties
The Hong Kong fire department confirmed it received the first alarm at 2.51pm local time (0651 GMT). The severity of the situation prompted authorities to upgrade the alert to a No 4 alarm, the second-highest level, by 3.34pm. According to reports from public broadcaster RTHK, which cited police sources, several people remained trapped inside the burning towers. Tragically, four individuals have lost their lives. Furthermore, two people are in a critical condition in hospital after suffering severe burns. The incident also resulted in injuries among the fire services personnel who were battling the intense flames.
Scene of the Disaster
The fire ripped through the 31-storey towers of Wang Fuk Court, a complex comprising eight blocks that provide approximately 2,000 residential units. Witnesses reported scores of fire engines and ambulances lining the roads below the complex. Live footage from the scene showed firefighters courageously aiming water jets at the flames from elevated ladder trucks. Onlookers gathered on a nearby overhead walkway, watching as smoke poured from the buildings, some of which were covered in the bamboo scaffolding commonly used in Hong Kong for construction and renovation. The fire department has stated it cannot yet confirm how many people may still be inside the affected buildings.
The blaze caused significant disruption to the area's infrastructure. Hong Kong's transport department announced the complete closure of a section of the Tai Po Road, one of the city's two main highways, with bus services being diverted as a result. The Wang Fuk Court estate is located in Tai Po, a suburban area within Hong Kong's New Territories, near the border with the mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen.
