36 Dead, 279 Missing After Devastating High-Rise Fire in Hong Kong
A devastating fire tore through seven high-rise apartment buildings in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, leaving 36 people dead and 279 others missing, authorities confirmed. At least 15 residents were injured in the blaze, and about 700 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters.
The fire spread rapidly across bamboo scaffolding and construction netting surrounding the housing complex, sending towering columns of flames and thick smoke into the night sky. Video from the scene showed multiple buildings ablaze, with flames bursting from apartment windows. Firefighters battled the inferno from ladders and deployed 128 fire trucks and 57 ambulances.
Among the deceased was one firefighter, while another was treated for heat exhaustion. Officials said many of the residents trapped in the blaze were elderly. The complex consisted of eight blocks housing nearly 2,000 apartments and roughly 4,800 people.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee confirmed the casualty figures and said authorities were working to account for those still missing. District officials have set up temporary shelters for those left homeless by the disaster.
“I’ve given up thinking about my property,” said a resident identified only as Wu. “Watching it burn like that was really frustrating.”
The blaze started mid-afternoon and escalated to a level 5 alarm — the highest severity level — by nightfall. Bamboo scaffolding, a common feature in Hong Kong construction and renovation, allowed the fire to spread rapidly, though the government plans to phase it out in public projects due to safety concerns.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
