At least four people have died and many others are still trapped in a large fire that hit several skyscrapers in the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in the northern Tai Po district of Hong Kong (an autonomous territory of China) this Wednesday, as reported by the government. Firefighters continue to battle the flames and thick black smoke coming from the 31-story towers with 2,000 residential apartments inside.
Two people are in critical condition after suffering burns, and there are many others injured, including some members of the fire brigade. Many citizens gathered on a nearby walkway and watched in dismay as smoke rose from the buildings, some of which were clad in bamboo scaffolding. Hong Kong is one of the last places in the world where bamboo is still commonly used for scaffolding in construction.
Wang Fuk Court is one of many high-rise residential complexes in Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated areas in the world, and is part of the government’s subsidized housing program. About 300,000 people live in Tai Po, located near the border with mainland China. According to the owners, it has been occupied since 1983. Local television station TVB reported that the complex was undergoing major renovations.
