HONG KONG, China: A huge fire that engulfed a Hong Kong residential estate has killed at least 36 people and left more than 200 unaccounted for in the city’s worst blaze in decades.
The fire, which started on Wednesday afternoon and was still burning in the early hours of Thursday, shocked the Chinese financial hub, which has some of the world’s most densely populated and tallest apartment blocks.
Massive flames first took hold on bamboo scaffolding on several apartment blocks of Wang Fuk Court, which contains nearly 2,000 flats in eight towers and was reportedly undergoing estate-wide maintenance.
A 65-year-old resident surnamed Yuen said he had lived in the estate for more than four decades and that many of his neighbours were elderly and might not be mobile.
“The windows were closed because of the maintenance, (some people) didn’t know there was a fire and had to be told to evacuate via phone calls by neighbours,” Yuen told AFP.
“I’m devastated, there is loss of property and loss of life, and even a firefighter has died.”
Nine people died at the scene and four more, including a 37-year-old firefighter, were certified dead at the hospital, the government said late on Wednesday.
Several people missing
A police officer at a temporary shelter said it was unclear how many people were unaccounted for because residents were still trickling in late into the night to report missing family members.
Sections of charred scaffolding fell from the burning blocks and flames could be seen inside apartments, sometimes belching out through windows into the night sky, casting an eerie orange glow on surrounding buildings.
“The temperature at the scene is very high and there are some floors where we have been unable to reach people who requested help, but we will keep trying,” said Derek Armstrong Chan, the deputy director of fire service operations.
He said the fire likely spread from one building to another due to the wind and drifting debris, although he added that authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze.
Hong Kong’s hospital authority said 23 people were injured, with six in critical condition and 11 listed as serious.
Chinese President expresses condolences
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the victims, including “the firefighter who died in the line of duty”, according to state media.
“He offered sympathies to the families of the victims and those affected by the disaster, and called for making every effort to extinguish the fire and minimise casualties and losses,” state broadcaster CCTV said.
City leader John Lee said he was “deeply saddened” and that all government departments were assisting residents affected by the fire.
Residents were seen being evacuated via large coaches, with local media reporting that adjacent blocks were also being cleared.
Authorities set up a casualty hotline and opened two temporary shelters in nearby community centres.
Sections of a nearby highway were also closed by the firefighting operation.
