Hong Kong high-rise fire kills at least four people

Fires broke out in multiple high-rise buildings in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, killing at least four people.

At least three other people were injured, two of them in critical condition, a government statement said. There are fears some people may still be trapped inside the building, local media reported.

Video showed flames and thick smoke billowing from the tower block in the Wang Fook Court residential complex on Wednesday afternoon.

The cause of the fire is not yet known but it is believed the flames spread quickly through bamboo scaffolding covering the tower’s exterior.

The fire service told the BBC that one of the people confirmed dead was a firefighter.

The fire broke out at 14:51 local time (06:50 GMT) and was quickly upgraded to a level four alert within 40 minutes, a government statement said. At 18:22, it was raised again to the highest level five.

As night fell, photos showed the fire still burning, with red flames covering at least three towers.

The Hong Kong government said nine people were sent to two hospitals for treatment.

“Four people have been confirmed dead, three are in critical condition, one is in serious condition and one is in stable condition,” the statement said.

Wang Fook Court is a residential complex consisting of eight towers providing 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,000 residents.

It is currently undergoing renovations, so bamboo scaffolding, which is commonly used in the construction industry, especially in Asia, was used because it is lightweight and strong.

Hong Kong is famous for its use of scaffolding, which is built by tying bamboo poles together with nylon fasteners. However, Hong Kong media reported in March that the Government Development Bureau has been trying to phase out the use of bamboo scaffolding due to safety concerns.