Deadly fire engulfs Hong Kong housing estate, killing at least 13

At least 13 people have died and dozens more have been injured after a massive fire tore through several high-rise apartment towers in Hong Kong’s northern Tai Po district on Wednesday, in what officials say is the city’s deadliest blaze in nearly three decades.

The fire broke out just before 3 p.m. local time at Wang Fuk Court, a public housing estate consisting of eight towers and nearly 2,000 apartments. Police said several residents were trapped inside the burning buildings, while two people remain in critical condition with severe burns, according to The Guardian as cited by Gazeta Express. The Hong Kong Hospital Authority later confirmed that at least 30 people have been injured, up from an earlier figure of 15 reported by CNN.

More than 700 firefighters were deployed to the scene, battling flames and thick grey smoke that engulfed seven of the estate’s eight towers. Emergency services lined the roads with dozens of fire trucks and ambulances, while videos showed crews attempting to douse the fire from above. Several firefighters sustained injuries during the operation, and one — 37-year-old Ho Wai-ho — was killed.

Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said Ho was rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital but succumbed to his injuries. “I am profoundly grieved at his passing … I offer my deepest condolences to his family members,” Tang said in a statement. Civil Service Secretary Ingrid Yeung also paid tribute, praising Ho’s “gallantry and selfless devotion to duty.”

Officials said firefighters remain in contact with some residents trapped on higher floors, urging them to seal doors and windows with tape and wet cloths to block smoke until rescue teams can reach them.

Wang Fuk Court is home to nearly 4,000 people, many of them elderly. Government data shows that roughly 36% of residents are aged 65 or older. Evacuated residents have been told they will not be able to return home tonight, leaving many scrambling for temporary shelter. One resident told CNN that no fire alarms went off in her apartment as the blaze spread.

The fire quickly consumed bamboo scaffolding that covered parts of the towers, sending flaming debris tumbling 10 to 20 stories down. Bamboo scaffolding, an ancient construction technique still widely used in Hong Kong, has come under increasing scrutiny for safety concerns. Wednesday’s disaster was the second major blaze in less than two months involving buildings encased in bamboo scaffolding. In October, a cigarette butt was blamed for sparking a fire at a high-rise in the Central business district, though no casualties were reported.

Hong Kong firefighters classified the blaze as a “level five fire,” the highest rating in the city. Despite its dense skyline, Hong Kong has long maintained a strong record on building safety, thanks to strict regulations and enforcement. Wednesday’s tragedy, however, underscores vulnerabilities in older housing estates and construction practices.

As emergency crews continue to battle the flames, officials have warned that the death toll could rise further. The fire department told Reuters it does not yet have a figure for how many people may still be inside the towers.