Fire engulfs Hong Kong high-rise, kills at least 14

At least 14 people have died and an unknown number are trapped after a massive fire ripped through several high-rise towers of a residential complex in Hong Kong’s northern Tai Po district, the government said.

Firefighters battled the blaze throughout the night, with thick black smoke billowing from the 31-storey towers and orange flames lighting up the night sky.

Wang Fuk Court residential complex, where the fire started, hosts 2000 residential apartments in eight blocks.

The Fire Department told Reuters it still did not have a figure for the number of people who might be inside the buildings.

A 71-year-old resident surnamed Wong burst into tears and sobbed, saying his wife was trapped in one of the buildings.

The Fire Chief said that a firefighter surnamed Ho was among the 14 dead, and more than ten people were injured.

Harry Cheung, 66, who has lived in Block Two in one of the complexes for more than 40 years, said he heard “a very loud noise around 2.45pm” and saw a fire breaking out in a nearby block.

“I immediately went back to collect my things,” he said.

“I don’t even 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 home.”

People gathered on a nearby walkway, some watching in horror as smoke billowed from buildings covered in bamboo scaffolding and posing for photos; The units have been under renovation for about a year, residents said in social media posts.

According to Reuters eyewitnesses, scaffolding frames were seen falling to the ground as firefighters battled the fire; Many fire trucks and ambulances also lined the road beneath the building.

Wang Fuk Court is one of many high-rise residential complexes in Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

Located near the border with mainland China, Tai Po is an established suburban area with a population of approximately 300,000.

Owning a house is a distant dream for many people in Hong Kong, one of the most expensive housing markets in the world and where housing rents are approaching record levels.

The complex is covered by the government’s subsidized homeownership scheme.

According to real estate agencies’ websites, it has been occupied since 1983.

The fire department said it received reports of a fire at Wang Fuk Court at 2:51 p.m.

By 18.22, it was raised to alarm number 5, the highest alarm in the city.

Strong winds fanned the flames, causing the fire to spread across seven of the complex’s eight blocks.

Hong Kong is one of the last places in the world where bamboo is still widely used as scaffolding in construction.

The government moved to begin phasing out the city’s use of bamboo scaffolding in March, citing safety.

He announced that 50 percent of public construction works will require the use of metal frames.