Post by : Rameen Ariff

A massive fire tore through a high-rise apartment complex in Tai Po, a suburb in northern Hong Kong, on Wednesday, killing at least 36 people and leaving hundreds of residents evacuated. The blaze also sent 279 people missing, while rescuers continued to pull residents from the burning buildings into Thursday morning.

Authorities said the fire began on the external scaffolding of a 32-storey building and quickly spread to nearby structures, fueled by bamboo scaffolding and construction netting. Windy conditions may have helped the flames spread rapidly. Bright flames and thick smoke shot out of windows as night fell, making rescue operations extremely difficult.

The apartment complex consists of eight buildings with around 2,000 apartments housing nearly 4,800 residents, including many elderly people. Hundreds of residents were evacuated to temporary shelters, and at least 29 people remain hospitalized. Local fire services said high temperatures and falling debris made it challenging to enter the buildings and conduct rescues.

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the fire. Investigators are also examining whether the materials on the exterior walls of the buildings met fire resistance standards. Foam sheets found at the scene were reportedly highly flammable, which may have contributed to the rapid spread.

A 37-year-old firefighter died while responding to the blaze, and another received treatment for heat exhaustion. Authorities deployed more than 200 fire trucks and 100 ambulances to contain the fire and assist residents.

Hong Kong’s chief executive, John Lee, said the government will prioritize disaster relief but noted that public efforts for the upcoming Legislative Council elections on December 7 may be affected. Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the families of the victims and urged efforts to minimize casualties.

The fire highlights safety concerns over the use of bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong, which, despite modernization, is still widely used in construction and renovation projects. Earlier this year, the government announced plans to phase out bamboo scaffolding for public works projects due to safety risks.

This fire is the deadliest in Hong Kong in years, with the last major tragedy in November 1996, when 41 people died in a commercial building fire in Kowloon. Authorities continue to search for missing residents and provide support for those affected by the disaster.

#Global News