A massive fire tore through a cluster of high rise apartment blocks in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, leaving 13 people dead and at least 15 injured. Hundreds of residents were trapped as flames rapidly spread across bamboo scaffolding and construction netting surrounding the Wang Fuk Court housing complex.
Fire Spreads Across Multiple Buildings
Authorities said the blaze began mid afternoon on external scaffolding before racing up the building façade and jumping to nearby residential blocks. The Fire Services Department later upgraded the incident to a level 5 alarm, the highest severity classification. Video from the scene showed several buildings engulfed at once, with flames shooting from windows as thick smoke filled the sky.
The Wang Fuk Court complex includes eight residential towers with nearly 2,000 apartments housing about 4,800 residents. Evacuation efforts continued into the night, with roughly 700 people taken to temporary shelters. Fire officials said falling debris, intense heat and collapsing scaffolding severely hindered rescue efforts.
Casualties and Emergency Response
Nine people were pronounced dead at the scene, and four others died after being transported to hospitals. Among the dead was a firefighter, and another was being treated for heat exhaustion, according to Fire Services Director Andy Yeung.
More than 128 fire engines and 57 ambulances were deployed as hundreds of firefighters battled the flames using ladder trucks and aerial water streams. Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of Fire Services, said conditions inside the buildings were “very high temperature,” making interior rescue operations extremely difficult.
Residents and Local Officials React
Some residents remained trapped into Wednesday night, with authorities receiving “numerous” distress calls. Local district council member Lo Hiu fung said many of those unable to escape were believed to be elderly. One resident, who gave his surname Wu, told local broadcaster TVB, “Watching it burn like that was really frustrating. I’ve given up thinking about my property.”
District officials opened emergency shelters for families displaced by the disaster while damage assessments continued. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, though officials noted that strong winds likely contributed to its rapid spread.
Bamboo Scaffolding Under Scrutiny
The blaze renewed attention on Hong Kong’s long standing use of bamboo scaffolding in construction and renovation. Earlier this year, the government announced plans to phase out the material for public sector works due to safety concerns. The Tai Po fire has intensified debate about broader changes to construction safety standards in one of the world’s most densely populated cities.