At least 13 dead in a fire at a residential complex in Hong Kong

BarcelonaA massive fire is engulfing a residential complex in Hong Kong, where seven of the eight towers of the Wang Fuk Court complex in the Tai Po district are surrounded by flames. The fire broke out at 2:50 p.m. local time (7:50 a.m. in Catalonia) and, despite the deployment of 737 firefighters, remains out of control. The complex contains nearly 2,000 apartments and more than 4,000 residents. According to Hong Kong authorities, the death toll has risen to thirteen. In addition, at least 15 people were injured in the blaze, which has been burning for more than eight hours. There is still no confirmed number of people trapped inside the buildings, and firefighters have warned that, at the moment, it is not safe to access them to complete search and rescue operations.

The fire is believed to have spread rapidly through bamboo scaffolding erected on the exterior of the buildings, as the complex was undergoing extensive renovations. In Hong Kong, this type of scaffolding is common in construction due to its lightness and strength, but in recent years it has raised growing safety concerns. In fact, according to local media, the government had been considering a gradual reduction in its use for months.

This fire will be considered a Level 5 alarm, the most severe category. It is the first time in 17 years that Hong Kong has faced a fire of this magnitude. The last one was in 2008, when four people died in a fire at Cornwall Court in the Mong Kok neighborhood. Tai Po district councilor Mui Siu-fung explained that nearly 95% of the residents of the surrounding buildings have already been evacuated. For the evacuees, mostly elderly people, the Home Affairs Department has opened several pavilions and community centers, such as the Kwong Fuk Community Hall and the Tung Cheong Street Leisure Building. The temporary shelter at the Tung Cheong Street Sports Centre is already full, and authorities are recommending that those affected go to other designated facilities. The fire has also forced the suspension of classes at six schools in the district on Thursday, and, in parallel, several political parties have announced the suspension of their election campaigns for the Legislative Council elections scheduled for December 7.