Deadly Hong Kong inferno engulfs seven towers, killing dozens and trapping many.
Photo Credit: @chungsumye via Instagram
A MASSIVE inferno is currently raging across seven residential skyscrapers in Hong Kong. At least 36 people have been killed and an additional 279 people are “uncontactable” on Wednesday, November 26 in what has been classified as a level five fire, the most serious threat level for a fire in the administrative region of China.
Hundreds of first responders battle behemoth blaze
More than 700 firefighters are on the scene trying to control the monstrous flames, which are currently engulfing seven of the eight total high-rise buildings at the Wang Fuk Court, home to around 4,600 residents in 2,000 flats in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong. The buildings are also home to a large population of elderly residents.
The Fire Services Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region deployed eight hose lines, seven aerial ladder trucks, 22 search teams, 128 fire engines, 57 ambulances and a total of 767 fire and ambulance personnel. There are currently 29 people receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, with seven of them in critical condition. Roughly 700 residents have been successfully evacuated to nearby buildings and emergency shelters. Reportedly, a baby and an elderly woman have also successfully been rescued from the flames during the late-night emergency operations, both being equipped with oxygen masks before being transported to the hospital.
Fire spread through strong winds and bamboo scaffolding
The fire, which began at around 2:50pm on Wednesday in Hong Kong local time (around 7:50am in Central European Time), tore through the bamboo scaffolding widely used in Hong Kong for construction and maintenance projects to become the most deadly fire in the city in nearly three decades. Firefighters used ladder trucks to battle the flames, but the fire continued to rage on and spread quickly to other buildings as they were built very close together. Additionally, strong winds facilitated the quick spread of the blaze.
The Hong Kong government had announced earlier this year that they would be phasing out the city’s bamboo scaffolding due to safety concerns.
Latest updates: Flames under control, but death toll continues to rise
According to the most recent reports, firefighters have managed to get the chaotic blaze under control, but they are as of yet currently unable to reach the residents trapped on the upper floors. According to Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee, three of the seven burning buildings now show no signs of fire, and the remaining four buildings are showing “disparate” signs of fire.
Tragically, a 37-year-old firefighter has died battling the blaze, and the Hong Kong government has paid tribute to him, describing him as “dedicated and gallant.” Another firefighter was treated for severe heat exhaustion.
“I am saddened by their deaths and I express deep condolences to the families of the deceased and those who were injured. We will provide all necessary assistance,” Lee told reporters.
The surviving residents of the buildings remain heartbroken, yet hopeful that their friends and loved ones have made it out of the blaze unscathed. Firefighters continue to battle the flames with hopes of rescuing those trapped on the uppermost floors of the buildings.
Read more World News here.
