Hong Kong: A powerful fire broke out Wednesday afternoon in a residential complex in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong, engulfing several high-rise apartment blocks and triggering a large-scale emergency response. The blaze began at 2:51 p.m. local time at Wang Fuk Court, a housing estate consisting of eight blocks and nearly 2,000 residential units.
Within less than an hour, the city’s fire department raised the alert to a No. 4 alarm the second-highest level signaling the severity of the situation as flames and smoke rapidly spread across multiple towers. Thick plumes of grey smoke rose above the estate, and emergency crews rushed to the scene to battle the blaze.
Local authorities and the public broadcaster RTHK reported that several residents remain trapped inside the affected buildings. At least two people have suffered serious burns, according to preliminary reports; a number of firefighters engaged in rescue efforts were also injured while attempting to subdue the flames.
Firefighters described how the blaze spread quickly not only within one block but across adjacent towers. The external bamboo scaffolding on some of the buildings, reportedly under renovation, caught fire and likely accelerated the spread.
In light of the emergency, the city’s transport authorities closed a section of the nearby highway and rerouted bus services to allow unimpeded access for fire engines and rescue teams. Residents in surrounding areas were advised to keep windows and doors closed and to avoid the immediate vicinity of the fire.
As night falls, emergency crews continue efforts to extinguish the fire and search for trapped residents. The exact cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Meanwhile, residents nearby are living under growing anxiety, uncertain about the fate of those still unaccounted for.
The fire at Wang Fuk Court underscores persistent concerns about fire safety in older or renovation-phase high-rise buildings in Hong Kong especially where external scaffolding and maintenance work might increase risk. Observers warn that such incidents demand greater regulatory scrutiny and stricter enforcement of safety norms.
The coming hours are expected to bring further updates, including statements from authorities, clearer casualty figures, and information about relief efforts for displaced residents.