At least 13 people were killed and 15 others injured when a fire broke out at an apartment complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district just before 3pm local time.
Here’s what we know so far:
Firefighters battling blaze struggle to reach trapped residents: Temperatures are scorching inside Wangfu Courthouse, and firefighters are struggling to reach the many people still trapped in the upper floors of several buildings, fire officials said.
Thousands of people affected: About 4,000 people live in Wang Fuku Court, a public housing complex consisting of eight high-rise towers and about 2,000 apartments. Most residents are pensioners, and about 36% of residents are over 65 years old, according to government-provided data. Those who evacuated will not be able to return home tonight and will have to sleep elsewhere. One evacuated resident told CNN that no fire alarms went off in his home.
Rising smoke and falling debris: Residents and bystanders watch in horror as the fire continues to burn and black smoke engulfs several buildings. The complex’s bamboo scaffolding, a common construction material in Hong Kong, has peeled off the side of the tower, falling from 10 to 20 floors, sometimes hitting the rubble and causing showers of sparks.
Fire is a rare disaster in Hong Kong: The fire was declared a Level 5 fire, the highest grade used by firefighters in Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated cities with the highest concentration of skyscrapers in the world. However, Hong Kong maintains an excellent track record when it comes to building safety, thanks to high-quality construction, strict enforcement of building regulations, and public compliance with shelter-in-place warnings.
CNN’s Jerome Taylor, Jesse Yang and Ivana Kottasova contributed to this post.
