It is not yet clear how many people died in the high-rise fire in Hong Kong. 44 victims have been confirmed, but many people are still missing. Seven of the eight high-rise buildings in the complex caught fire.
At least 44 people died in a fire at a high-rise apartment complex in Hong Kong. 279 people were still missing, said the head of China’s special administrative region government, John Lee. 29 people were hospitalized.
Lee said the fire in the Tai Po district was slowly “being brought under control.” The fire spread to the seven-story building through bamboo scaffolding in front of the building facade.
Difficult removal and Rescue work
Firefighters said rescue efforts were difficult due to high temperatures at the crash site. About 700 residents were taken to emergency accommodation. According to the Deputy Fire Chief, the fire spread quickly due to wind and flying debris.
All available emergency services must be deployed to extinguish the fire, Lee continued. Chinese state and party leader Xi Jinping offered condolences from Beijing, Chinese state television reported. He assured the special administrative regions to provide support.
The cause of the fire is still unclear. Local media reported that three men were arrested on suspicion of murder. Authorities have launched an investigation and want to take a closer look at the safety standards of bamboo scaffolding. Hong Kong is one of the last places in the world where bamboo is still widely used as scaffolding.
Nearly 2,000 apartments in eight houses
In total, the Wang Fuk Court residential complex includes eight residential buildings, each with 32 floors, and a total of nearly 2,000 apartments that will house around 4,800 people.
As confirmed by the Chinese Special Administrative Region government, a firefighter also died. The 37-year-old man was found unconscious at the scene and later died in hospital from his injuries.
