At least 13 dead as fire engulfs Hong Kong high-rise residential buildings | News

Authorities have described the fire as an alarm level five as flames have engulfed several high-rise buildings in an estate in northern Hong Kong.

At least 13 people have died in a fire that swept through several high-rise apartment buildings in Hong Kong, authorities say, with some residents reported trapped inside.

Flames spread through several apartment blocks in the Wang Fuc Court estate in the Tai Po district in the northern part of the city on Wednesday afternoon before engulfing other parts of the buildings.

Firefighters battled the blaze overnight as thick, black smoke billowed from the 31-story towers and orange flames burned into the sky.

Nine people were declared dead at the scene and four people were later confirmed dead after being sent to hospital, the fire services department said, which upgraded the fire to a level five alarm after dark.

At least 15 people were injured, and local media reported that some residents were believed to be trapped inside buildings.

“Nothing can be done about the property. We can only hope that everyone, whether old or young, can return safely,” a 57-year-old Tai Po resident surnamed So told AFP news agency near the site of the fire.

“It’s heartbreaking. We’re concerned that there are people trapped inside.”

Wang Fuk Court is one of several high-rise housing complexes in Hong Kong, a city that is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

Records show that the residential complex consisted of eight blocks containing approximately 2,000 apartments housing approximately 4,800 people.

Tai Po, located near the border with mainland China, is an established suburban district with a population of about 300,000 people.