Four dead as Hong Kong high rise erupts in flames

The blaze erupted at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in the Tai Po district and was quickly raised to a number four alarm, the second highest fire alert level in Hong Kong. The fire affected at least three of the estate’s eight residential blocks, which together contain more than 1,900 apartments.

In addition to the four fatalities, three other people were hospitalized, two of whom remain in critical condition. Among the dead is a firefighter who took part in the emergency response.

Footage from the scene shows dense plumes of smoke and flames engulfing external scaffolding surrounding the buildings due to ongoing renovation works.

Emergency services continue search and rescue operations and the dismantling of damaged structures. The cause of the fire has not yet been identified.

Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that on November 21, twelve people were killed and dozens injured after a boiler exploded at a chemical plant in Pakistan’s Punjab province.