Hong Kong: A growing sense of fear and helplessness spread across Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday evening as residents desperately sought information about missing family members trapped inside the burning Wang Fuk Court residential complex.
In the aftermath of the massive blaze, District Councilor Li Man-kit told BBC Chinese that a local community hall was opened at 16:30 for evacuees to register and seek assistance. But just two hours later, authorities deemed the Kwong Fuk Community Hall located nearest to the fire and separated from the estate by only a road unsafe due to encroaching heat and smoke, forcing officials to relocate evacuees to CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School.
Li said the shift was necessary to ensure the safety of hundreds gathering for help. However, the emotional toll intensified as night fell.
Fellow district councilor Mui Sui-fung said they had been inundated throughout the day with calls and WhatsApp messages from distraught residents unable to reach relatives believed to be inside the burning towers.
“Many people contacted us saying they still have family members inside or simply cannot find them,” Mui said, noting that the exact number of people still trapped remains unknown.
As flames continued climbing the bamboo scaffolding wrapped around the buildings, anxiety mounted for families who have been unable to regain communication.
The blaze erupted at 14:51 local time (06:51 GMT) at Wang Fuk Court, a major residential estate consisting of eight 31-storey towers. Together, these blocks house 1,984 apartments and are home to roughly 4,600 residents, according to the 2021 census.
Built in 1983, the entire complex was undergoing large-scale renovations. The structures were covered in bamboo scaffolding, which video footage shows acting as a fast-moving conduit for the fire, allowing flames to spread rapidly upward and across building exteriors.
Some long-time residents described barely escaping as the fire intensified.
Harry Cheung, 66, who has lived in Block Two for more than four decades, told Reuters he heard “a very loud noise” just minutes before the blaze erupted.
“I saw fire breaking out in another block,” he recalled. “I immediately went back to pack my things.”
Cheung said he was overwhelmed and unsure where he would spend the night.
“I don’t know how I feel right now. I’m just thinking about where I’m going to sleep tonight because I probably won’t be able to go back home.”
As of late evening, rescue workers remained unable to enter several parts of the buildings due to intense heat and collapsing scaffolding. With phone networks strained and visibility worsening, authorities warned that it may take hours or longer before they can determine how many residents remain inside.
Meanwhile, families continued gathering at temporary shelters, waiting anxiously for updates in what has become one of Hong Kong’s most distressing residential disasters in recent years.