Major blaze in Hong Kong residential block leaves at least four dead

A massive, raging fire broke out and engulfed multiple residential blocks in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong on Wednesday.

The blaze has resulted in at least four deaths and injured several people, according to details released by a representative from the government’s Information Services Department.

The Hong Kong media confirmed that one of the dead was a firefighter, and at least one man and one woman were taken unconscious to hospital with scalded burns, while police received reports of stranded residents.

The live broadcast demonstrated dark clouds of smoke swirling from the framework on multiple towers.

Concerning the serious situation, sections of nearby highways were immediately closed by the firefighting operation.

The residents are advised to stay indoors, close their doors and windows, and stay calm.

Separately, four people were hospitalized after a serious fire in a building in Hong Kong’s central business district last month.

The tragic incident calls for the urgent deployment of safety protocols to address serious situations immediately.

Additionally, the major fire affected residential blocks and resulted in serious injuries, underscoring the need for safety measures to prevent its widespread spread.

Bamboo scaffolding is a common sight in Hong Kong in building construction, though the government said earlier that it would start phasing it out for public projects because of safety concerns.