Massive fire in Hong Kong skyscraper kills dozens
A massive fire has broken out in Hong Kong, setting a high-rise building on fire, killing dozens and injuring several others.
A massive fire broke out in Hong Kong on November 26, burning down a high-rise residential building and killing dozens of people as authorities searched for hundreds of people missing.
According to Reuters, the fire broke out at Wang Fuku Court, a 32-story high-rise apartment complex with 2,000 homes spread over eight blocks. The complex is located in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, near the border between Hong Kong and mainland China.
The fire was the deadliest fire in Hong Kong in 30 years, leaving at least 36 people dead, including firefighters, 29 hospitalized and 279 missing. About 900 people are in evacuation centers.
Dramatic footage from the scene showed the building’s bamboo scaffolding engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke billowing up as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames below.
Harry Chan, 66, who has lived in one of the apartment complexes for more than 40 years, told Reuters he heard a loud noise around 2:45 p.m. local time and saw a fire starting in a nearby block.
“I don’t even know how I feel right now. I’m trying to figure out where I’m going to sleep tonight because I probably won’t be able to go home.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” to extinguish the fire and minimize casualties and losses, according to state broadcaster CCTV. However, Hong Kong Fire Department Deputy Commissioner Derek Armstrong Chan told a news conference that “extremely high temperatures” were making it difficult to reach people trapped indoors, CNN reported.
When did the fire occur?
The fire department received a report of the fire at 2:51 p.m. local time and raised the alert to level 4, the second highest, by 3:34 p.m. By fall night, the fire had been raised to its highest level of severity, according to the Associated Press.
What caused the fire?
The cause of the fire is unknown, the BBC reported. However, the flames are thought to have spread quickly because bamboo scaffolding covered the outside of the skyscraper.
According to Reuters, the building had been occupied since 1983 and was undergoing extensive renovations. Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world to use bamboo scaffolding.
Where is Tai Po in Hong Kong?
Tai Po, Hong Kong, is located near the border between Hong Kong and mainland China.
According to Reuters, this is a suburban area with a population of about 300,000 people.
(This story has been updated with new information.)
Contributed by: Reuters
Julia is USA TODAY’s trends reporter, covering scientific research, shopping trends, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn ×Instagram, TikTok: @juliamaigz or email jgomez@hannett.com.
