Massive Fire Engulfs Residential Building in Hong Kong's Tai Po District: Multiple Residents Trapped

A devastating fire erupted at a residential tower in Hong Kong's northern Tai Po district on Wednesday, with dense grey smoke clouds visible from a distance as emergency response teams worked intensively to control the flames.

According to reports from public broadcaster RTHK citing police sources, multiple residents remain trapped inside the building. One individual has already sustained serious burn injuries in the incident.

The Hong Kong Fire Department officially recorded the initial fire report at 2:51 p.m. local time, indicating that flames had broken out in Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The situation rapidly escalated, with authorities upgrading the incident to a No. 4 alarm by 3:34 p.m., signifying the serious nature of the blaze.

Wang Fuk Court is a substantial residential complex comprising eight separate blocks and containing nearly 2,000 residential units. Several neighboring towers in the vicinity of the burning building are currently fitted with bamboo scaffolding on their exteriors, potentially complicating firefighting efforts.

Photo Credit: REUTERS