Tragedy struck a residential tower block in Hong Kong on Wednesday as a devastating fire erupted, resulting in four fatalities and trapping numerous residents, according to official statements.
The government of Hong Kong confirmed the loss of four lives and noted that three individuals required hospital care. A concise update specified that two of the hospitalized persons were in critical condition, while the third was reported stable.
Reports circulating in Hong Kong media indicated that one of those who died was a member of the fire brigade, though this detail lacked immediate official verification.
Law enforcement confirmed receiving numerous distress calls concerning individuals trapped within the structure involved in the conflagration.
The fierce inferno propelled a tall plume of fire and dense smoke skyward as it rapidly consumed the bamboo scaffolding erected around the structure’s exterior in the Tai Po area of the city. Footage broadcast live from the location depicted fire crews directing powerful streams of water towards the intense flames from extended aerial platforms.
The incident began in the middle of the afternoon and was subsequently escalated to the level of a No. 4 alarm fire, signifying the second most severe classification, as stated by the Fire Services Department.
Tai Po is situated in the New Territories, a suburban region in the northern sector of Hong Kong, near the boundary with Shenzhen, the mainland Chinese metropolis.
The use of bamboo scaffolding is routine across Hong Kong for structures undergoing new construction or refurbishment; however, the administration had announced earlier this year plans to begin replacing it with safer alternatives for publicly funded ventures due to established safety risks.
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