Black night in Hong Kong, as the densely populated Tai Po district has so far claimed the lives of 44 people, while 279 are missing. The flames hundreds of houses, destroying lives and causing panic among residents.
According to local media, police have arrested three suspects for arson, with no further information released so far.
Fire that spread like a storm
The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon and within a few hours spread to seven skyscrapers, trapping dozens of residents. Authorities have confirmed at least 40 dead, including a 37-year-old firefighter who was involved in rescue efforts. Many are also injured, with at least 45 hospitalized in critical condition.
“I have given up all thought about my possessions,” says Wu, a resident of the compound, with tears in her eyes. “Watching your house burn before your eyes … it was unspeakable.”
More video of the horrific fire in Hong Kong. At least 13 people have died and 15 others injured after flames swept through multiple blocks of a Tai Po housing estate today.
The buildings are still burning.
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1)
Difficult times for firefighters and residents
High temperatures and dangerous scaffolding make rescue operations difficult. Hundreds of firefighters, police and rescue workers battled non-stop for hours, using large ladders and fire trucks to douse the flames that spread to neighboring buildings.
By this time, the fire has spread to a total of four building blocks, as announced by a local official. At least 1,900 apartments have burned to the ground since 1984, the skyscraper’s total. This skyscraper is the second tallest building in Hong Kong.
The complex includes eight apartment buildings with about 2,000 apartments and 4,800 residents, many of them elderly, and authorities have moved more than 700 people into temporary accommodation.
REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
Authorities deployed hundreds (more than 800) of firefighters, police (400) and paramedics, with 140 fire engines and 57 ambulances rushing to the scene. Some buildings suffered scaffolding collapse and intense heat, making rescue operations extremely difficult.
At least nine hospitals have activated emergency mechanisms and are making every effort to rescue and care for the injured.
Cause of fire and ongoing destruction
The fire appears to have started on the exterior scaffolding of a 32-story building and spread quickly, possibly due to winds. The authorities received numerous calls about people trapped, while the conditions inside the buildings were unbearable.
A firefighter said: “The temperature was so high it was impossible to get in and save people quickly. Every second counts…”
The fire in Tai Po is the deadliest in Hong Kong in recent years, reminiscent of the 1996 tragedy in Kowloon, where 41 people had lost their lives in a commercial building fire.
The condolences of the Chinese president
Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed his condolences for the firefighter who was killed and called on authorities to limit casualties as much as possible.
“Xi Jinping expressed his condolences to the people who died in the large fire in a residential area of Tai Po District, New Territories, Hong Kong, including the firefighter who died in the line of duty,” state broadcaster CCTV reported. The president “expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and those affected by the disaster, and asked that all efforts be made to extinguish the fire and minimize human losses and material damage,” the same source continued.
