HONG KONG — A serious fireplace tore by a number of high-rise towers at a housing property in Hong Kong on Wednesday, killing at the least 4 folks, officers mentioned.
Police acquired a number of experiences of individuals trapped within the property, the place bamboo scaffolding has been erected outdoors a number of towers as they endure renovation, native media reported.
5 others have been injured, three of them critically, within the fireplace at Wang Fuk Court docket within the northern district of Tai Po, the Fireplace Companies Division mentioned. Not less than one firefighter was believed to be among the many lifeless, in keeping with native broadcaster RTHK.
Firefighters have been nonetheless battling the blaze a number of hours later as evening fell. At 6:22 p.m. native time (5 a.m. ET), it was upgraded to a No. 5 alarm fireplace, the best stage within the Chinese language territory.
Large flames and thick plumes of darkish smoke may very well be seen coming from a number of towers on the housing complicated, which has eight buildings and nearly 2,000 residential models.
The blaze was categorised as a No. 1 alarm fireplace when it was first reported at 2:51 p.m., but it surely was rapidly upgraded to a No. 3 alarm fireplace at 3:02 p.m. and a No. 4 alarm fireplace at 3:34 p.m., the Fireplace Companies Division mentioned.
The Transport Division mentioned a variety of bus routes had been diverted and that sections of some close by roads had been closed to all site visitors.
Hong Kong has been below a purple fireplace hazard warning since Monday, which suggests there’s an especially excessive threat of fireplace.
