What we know about the Hong Kong apartment complex fire
As night fell on the island, the fire was still burning, hours after it was first reported, with over 700 firefighters deployed to the scene.
A massive fire has engulfed several high-rise tower blocks in Hong Kong's Tai Po district, killing at least 13 people and injuring 15 others.
Pictures show several buildings ablaze, and thick smoke billowing into the air, dominating Hong Kong's skyline, reports the BBC.
As night fell on the island, the fire was still burning, hours after it was first reported, with over 700 firefighters deployed to the scene.
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What caused the fire is still unclear, but here is what we know so far.
Where and when the fire started
According to the BBC, the fire broke out at 2:51pm local time (06:51 GMT) at Wang Fuk Court, a major public housing complex in the Tai Po district. The estate comprises eight 31-storey blocks, built in 1983 and home to roughly 4,600 people.
The buildings were undergoing renovations and were fully encased in bamboo scaffolding. Footage reviewed by the BBC shows flames racing rapidly across the scaffolding structure.
Severity of the blaze
Hong Kong's fire department escalated the blaze to a level five alarm, the highest category. It reached level four within 40 minutes of the first report, and by 6:22pm was raised again. The BBC notes this is the city's first level-five fire in 17 years.
Residents feared the fire could burn throughout the night, and evening images showed multiple towers still alight.
What is known about the victims
Authorities initially reported four deaths, but the toll later rose sharply to 13, with concerns it may climb further as several people remain missing.
Of the confirmed dead, nine were found at the scene, according to Fire Services Department official Chou Wing-yin.
The number of injured was later revised to 15.
Among those killed was 37-year-old firefighter Ho Wai-ho, who had served for nine years at Sha Tin Fire Station.
The fire service said they lost contact with him at around 3:30pm; he was later found collapsed, taken to hospital, and pronounced dead.
Fire Services Director Andy Yeung said he was "profoundly grieved" at the loss. Another firefighter remains hospitalised.
Evacuations, shelters, and emergency support
The government confirmed mass evacuations at Wang Fuk Court and surrounding buildings. BBC Chinese reporter Gemini Cheng observed elderly residents — some in wheelchairs or using walking aids — arriving at temporary shelters.
Officials said coaches would transport evacuees to community halls operating overnight.
Security Secretary Tang Ping-keung said an emergency monitoring and support centre had been activated. Hong Kong Police opened a casualty inquiry hotline at +852 1878 999.
Bamboo scaffolding under scrutiny
The Wang Fuk Court blocks were clad in bamboo scaffolding as part of ongoing renovations. The BBC reports that while bamboo has long been used in Hong Kong construction for its strength and lightness, authorities have been reconsidering its use amid safety concerns.
Earlier this year, the government's development bureau cited high combustibility and structural variability as potential risks.
Though the cause of the fire is still undetermined, officials say its rapid spread — reportedly through the bamboo scaffolding and onto neighbouring structures — will be a key focus of the investigation.
