A devastating fire in a high-rise residential building in Hong Kong has resulted in the deaths of at least 36 people and injuries to more than 250 others. The incident, which occurred in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex located in Tai Po District, New Territories, has drawn national attention and raised serious safety concerns. In a response to this calamity, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed deep condolences for those who lost their lives, including a firefighter who died while attempting to save others. Xi urged local authorities to act swiftly to manage the disaster and minimize additional casualties.
The fire broke out on a Wednesday afternoon, with the Hong Kong Fire Services Department receiving the first emergency call at approximately 2:51 PM local time. By 3:34 PM, the blaze was escalated to a No 4 alarm, which is just one level below the highest emergency classification. A significant response followed, deploying numerous fire engines, ambulances, and rescue teams as smoke billowed from the building, which houses around 2,000 apartments.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee confirmed the escalating death toll while rescue operations were still underway. Firefighting crews were deployed to locate survivors, with many residents reportedly gathered on overhead walkways as flames spread rapidly. The tightly packed neighborhood of Tai Po, home to nearly 300,000 residents, faces significant disruptions as roads remain closed and bus routes have been diverted to facilitate rescue efforts.
Eyewitness accounts have described a scene of chaos, with flames surging swiftly up the buildings, which were undergoing renovation work at the time of the incident. Fire Services Director Andy Yeung Yan-kin revealed that the presence of styrofoam within the buildings appears to have intensified the fire, allowing flames to travel rapidly along corridors and ignite multiple floors.
Further compounding the emergency response was the discovery that materials used in the construction, such as netting and waterproof tarpaulin, burned much faster than regulations stipulate. Security Secretary Chris Tang highlighted the unusual nature of the fire's rapid spread, indicating that both criminal and safety investigations are being launched to explore possible irregularities surrounding the building's conditions and response protocols.
As search and rescue operations continue, the local government remains focused on verifying the number of missing residents and assessing the structural integrity of the complex. The aftermath of this catastrophic event underscores the urgent need for stringent safety regulations within residential buildings, especially those undergoing renovations.