Hong Kong High-Rise Inferno Leaves 13 Dead, Dozens Injured

A fierce fire swept through multiple high-rise apartment blocks in Hong Kong’s northern New Territories on Wednesday, leaving at least 13 people dead — among them a firefighter — and injuring 15 others. 

Thick plumes of smoke filled the skyline as emergency crews battled the blaze for hours.

The fire is believed to have ignited in one of the towers before rapidly spreading to adjoining buildings. 

Despite the efforts of hundreds of firefighters, several structures continued to burn more than six hours after the initial outbreak.

Officials from the Fire Services Department confirmed the casualty figures during an evening briefing, noting that rescue operations were still ongoing. 

Earlier, a government spokeswoman said hospital reports indicated that three of the first five victims brought in for treatment were in critical condition.

The authorities raised their so-called No. 5 alarm for the fire, their highest rating for fire severity, for the first time in nearly two decades. 

It was unclear how many others were still trapped in the buildings. Officials with the police and fire services said they had received numerous calls for help from residents, prompting the authorities to escalate their response.

The Hong Kong Fire Services Department said that it had sent 760 rescuers to the site. 

John Lee, the chief executive of Hong Kong, said that he was activating the city’s Emergency Accident Monitoring and Support Center.

The towers at Wang Fuk Court, a dense complex of about 2,000 apartments, were sheathed in bamboo scaffolding, which is widely used in Hong Kong to construct and repair buildings. 

The apartment towers are in Tai Po, a district in the northeastern corner of the New Territories.