At least 36 people have lost their lives, including a firefighter, in a catastrophic high-rise fire that engulfed a housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday. A grim search continues for 79 missing individuals, with fears mounting for those possibly trapped inside smoke-filled apartments.
The fire erupted at approximately 2:50 PM local time and spread with alarming speed. Investigations suggest that bamboo scaffolding and green safety netting, part of renovation projects, acted as accelerants, helping the fire climb rapidly up the building facades. The severity of the fire quickly led to a No. 4 alarm, the highest emergency response level in Hong Kong.
Dramatic footage from the scene depicted infernos consuming multiple buildings, spewing thick black smoke into the atmosphere. Firefighters were observed in a desperate struggle to contain the blaze from elevated platforms, facing the danger of falling debris.
The Tai Po housing estate is a large, densely populated development featuring eight residential towers and housing over 4,800 people. Its location in the New Territories, an area known for its high-rise density, amplified concerns about the fire’s potential reach.
Rescue operations are in full swing, with emergency personnel conducting systematic searches and battling persistent hotspots on the scaffold-covered exteriors. Temporary accommodation is being provided for families forced to evacuate their homes.
The origin of this tragic fire is currently unknown, and authorities have initiated a thorough investigation into the incident.