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HONG KONG, Nov 26 (Reuters) - A massive fire ripped through multiple high-rise residential blocks in Hong Kong's northern Tai Po district on Wednesday, killing at least 14 people and injuring scores as authorities struggled to bring the blaze under control.
Firefighters battled the orange flames into the night as thick black smoke billowed from the 32-storey towers, which were sheathed in bamboo scaffolding - whose use the government began phasing out in March for safety reasons - and green construction mesh. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.
containing the blaze was getting tougher after night fell.
The Wang Fuk Court housing complex, where the fire started, has 2,000 residential apartments comprising eight blocks. The Fire Services Department said it did not yet have a figure for the number of people who might still be inside the buildings.
FIREFIGHTER AMONG THE DEAD
Dozens of shocked residents, many sobbing, watched from nearby walkways as smoke funnelled up from the complex.
A resident surnamed Wong, 71, broke down in tears, saying his wife was trapped inside one of the buildings.
A firefighter was among the 14 killed, the director of Fire Services said, and more than 16 people have been injured.
The fire department said it received reports at 2:51 p.m. that a fire had broken out in Wang Fuk Court. By 6:22 p.m. it had been upgraded to a No. 5 alarm, the city's highest.
Strong winds fanned the flames, causing the blaze to spread to seven of the complex's eight blocks.
Harry Cheung, 66, who has lived at Block Two in one of the complexes for more than 40 years, said he heard "a very loud noise at around 2:45 p.m." (0645 GMT) and saw a fire erupt in a nearby block.
"I immediately went back to pack up my things," he said. "I don't even know how I feel right now. I'm just thinking about where I'm going to sleep tonight because I probably won't be able to go back home."
Frames of scaffolding were seen tumbling to the ground as firefighters battled the blaze, while scores of fire engines and ambulances lined the road below the development, according to Reuters witnesses.
Source: REUTERS
Firefighters battled the orange flames into the night as thick black smoke billowed from the 32-storey towers, which were sheathed in bamboo scaffolding - whose use the government began phasing out in March for safety reasons - and green construction mesh. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.
containing the blaze was getting tougher after night fell.
The Wang Fuk Court housing complex, where the fire started, has 2,000 residential apartments comprising eight blocks. The Fire Services Department said it did not yet have a figure for the number of people who might still be inside the buildings.
FIREFIGHTER AMONG THE DEAD
Dozens of shocked residents, many sobbing, watched from nearby walkways as smoke funnelled up from the complex.
A resident surnamed Wong, 71, broke down in tears, saying his wife was trapped inside one of the buildings.
A firefighter was among the 14 killed, the director of Fire Services said, and more than 16 people have been injured.
The fire department said it received reports at 2:51 p.m. that a fire had broken out in Wang Fuk Court. By 6:22 p.m. it had been upgraded to a No. 5 alarm, the city's highest.
Strong winds fanned the flames, causing the blaze to spread to seven of the complex's eight blocks.
Harry Cheung, 66, who has lived at Block Two in one of the complexes for more than 40 years, said he heard "a very loud noise at around 2:45 p.m." (0645 GMT) and saw a fire erupt in a nearby block.
"I immediately went back to pack up my things," he said. "I don't even know how I feel right now. I'm just thinking about where I'm going to sleep tonight because I probably won't be able to go back home."
Frames of scaffolding were seen tumbling to the ground as firefighters battled the blaze, while scores of fire engines and ambulances lined the road below the development, according to Reuters witnesses.
Source: REUTERS
