A massive fire at a high-rise housing complex in Hong Kong, described as the city’s worst in decades, continues to burn as the death toll rises to 44. While firefighters have managed to contain the blaze in four buildings, smoke was still pouring from three others on Thursday as rescue teams worked to reach people feared trapped inside.
Authorities say nearly 300 residents remain unaccounted for after the fire erupted, with early investigations suggesting it was likely triggered by unsafe scaffolding and foam materials used during maintenance work, according to Reuters.
Many of those trapped are believed to be on the upper floors, where intense heat and thick smoke have made rescue operations extremely difficult.
“Debris and scaffolding of the affected buildings are falling down, so they pose additional danger to our frontline personnel,” deputy fire services director Derek Chan said, as quoted by Bloomberg.
‘Unusual’ fire behavior and heavy casualties
Secretary for Security Chris Tang reportedly described the fire as “unusual,” noting that materials on the building’s exterior ignited and spread far more aggressively than anticipated.
“Protective netting, fire-resistant cloth and plastic sheeting on the exterior of the building burned far more intensely and spread much faster than compliant materials normally would,” Tang said, per Bloomberg.
Police investigators also found that windows on a nearby, previously unaffected building had been sealed with foam by a construction company carrying out maintenance work.
“We have reason to believe that the company’s responsible parties were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties,” said Hong Kong police superintendent Eileen Chung.
The fire broke out at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong’s New Territories, a suburban area where roughly 5,000 people lived in the estate.
Xi Jinping urges full rescue effort
Chinese President Xi Jinping has responded to the disaster, calling on Hong Kong authorities and emergency workers to “make every effort” to put out the blaze and carry out rescue operations.
“Xi Jinping expressed condolences for those who died in the major fire at a residential estate in Tai Po District, New Territories, Hong Kong, including the firefighter who died in the line of duty,” state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The President’s remarks referred to a 37-year-old firefighter who lost his life while attempting to save residents trapped inside the burning complex.
