Major Fire Claims Lives at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court

Tai Po, Hong Kong – A devastating fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a residential complex in the northern Tai Po district, on Wednesday. The fire, which erupted around 2:51 PM local time, has already claimed at least four lives, including one firefighter, according to the Hong Kong fire department.

The residential estate, consisting of 1,984 flats and housing approximately 4,000 residents, is undergoing renovation. The blaze is anticipated to have significant impacts on the community and the complex itself.

In response to the disaster, the Hong Kong government has established temporary shelters at the Kwong Fuk Community Hall and the Tung Cheong Street Leisure Building. A help desk has also been set up at the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital for public enquiries and assistance. A hotline at 2658 4040 is available for those seeking more information.

As firefighters battled the flames, the situation escalated, prompting officials to upgrade the fire’s status to a level 4 emergency at 3:34 PM. The fire is reported to have spread across bamboo scaffolding on the buildings’ exterior, complicating rescue efforts.

Seven individuals were transported to hospitals after the incident, with a government statement confirming that four have died, two are in a critical condition, and one is stable. Reports indicate that several residents remain trapped inside the complex.

Traffic on the Tai Po highway has been disrupted, with authorities closing off sections of the road and diverting buses as emergency services continue to respond.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and will open additional shelters if necessary. An update from officials is expected shortly as efforts to manage the situation continue.