At least 13 people have died in a massive fire that swept through several high-rise buildings in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district.
At least 15 people were injured, authorities said at a news conference Wednesday night.
Footage shows flames and thick clouds of gray smoke rising from a tower in the Wang Fuk Court housing estate on Wednesday afternoon.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but it is believed the flames spread quickly through the bamboo scaffolding covering the outside of the tower block.
The fire broke out at 14:51 local time (06:51 GMT), and was quickly raised to alert level 4 within 40 minutes. At 18:22, it was again raised to the highest level 5.
Authorities said 767 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire.
As night fell, photos showed the fire was still burning, with red flames engulfing at least three tower blocks.
Previously, the Hong Kong government said in a statement that 9 people were taken to hospitals and 4 were confirmed dead, but the number of deaths later increased significantly to 13.
Fire chief Chou Wing-yin said nine of them were confirmed dead at the scene.
One of the victims was Howaiho, 37, who had worked as a firefighter for nine years. He was found collapsed at the scene about 30 minutes after losing contact.
Fire Commissioner Andy Yeung described him as a “dedicated and courageous firefighter” and said everyone was “deeply saddened” by his death.
Police evacuated nearby buildings and the government opened several temporary shelters, including the Kwong Fuk Community Hall and the Tung Cheong Street Leisure Building.
The update added that Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital has also set up a help desk and hotline for support and public inquiries.
Hong Kong’s Transport Department said there was a large evacuation zone around the fire, roads were closed and more than 30 bus routes were diverted.
Wang Fuk Court is a housing complex comprised of eight tower blocks providing 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,000 residents.
Currently undergoing renovation, bamboo scaffolding is commonly used in the construction industry, especially in Asia, as it is lightweight and strong.
Hong Kong is famous for its use of scaffolding, which consists of bamboo poles tied together with nylon fasteners. However, according to Hong Kong media reports in March, the government’s development department has been trying to phase out the use of bamboo scaffolding due to safety concerns.
The last time Hong Kong experienced a level 5 fire was 17 years ago.
In 2008, a fire broke out in Cornwall Court, a commercial district in Mong Kok, killing four people. The building was built in 1962.
