A tragic incident occurred in Hong Kong as a massive fire engulfed multiple high-rise buildings in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, located in the Tai Po district.
At least four people are reported to have died, including a firefighter, while several others have sustained injuries, with fears that some residents may still be trapped in the burning structures.
Eyewitness reports and footage captured on the scene show flames and thick smoke rapidly spreading across the towers of the complex.
The fire broke out around 14:51 local time and escalated quickly, reaching a level four alarm within 40 minutes, then moving to the highest level five alarm shortly thereafter.
As night descended, the stark reality of the fire’s ferocity became apparent with red flames still visible engulfing at least three of the tower blocks.
The Wang Fuk Court is known to house nearly 4,000 residents across its eight towers and is currently undergoing renovation which involved the use of bamboo scaffolding, leading experts to speculate that this may have contributed to the fire's rapid spread.
While firefighters continue to battle the blaze, anxious relatives await news of their loved ones. Local authorities have confirmed that nine people have been transported to different hospitals for treatment, with some reported in critical and serious conditions. The search and rescue operation remains a primary focus as the investigation into the cause of the fire begins.
