Hong Kong is mourning a devastating loss after a massive fire broke out at a high-rise housing estate in Tai Po on Wednesday. The blaze has tragically resulted in at least 36 fatalities, including a firefighter, and left 79 people unaccounted for. Many residents are feared to be trapped inside their apartments as thick smoke filled the buildings. The fire, which reportedly began around 2:50 pm, spread with incredible speed up the exteriors of multiple residential towers, with at least seven buildings affected. The rapid intensification is attributed to the presence of bamboo scaffolding and green safety netting used for ongoing renovation work, which acted as fuel. The situation escalated quickly, prompting officials to declare a No. 4 alarm, a top-tier emergency response. Live footage from the scene captured the terrifying scale of the event, showing flames erupting from several floors and dark smoke billowing into the sky. Firefighters on ladders battled the inferno under extremely difficult conditions, with burning materials falling around them. The housing complex in Tai Po is a densely populated area, with eight towers housing over 4,800 residents. Its location within the New Territories, an area known for its numerous high-rise buildings, heightened anxieties. Rescue operations are ongoing, with emergency personnel conducting thorough searches of each floor for survivors and working to suppress remaining fires. Families evacuated from their homes are being accommodated in temporary shelters. Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to this catastrophic fire.
