According to local authorities, the fire started around 2:51 PM in Hong Kong (6:51 AM GMT) and quickly spread through the buildings’ exterior structures, reaching bamboo scaffolding installed outside. The alert was raised to “Alarm 4,” the second highest level on the scale used by the Hong Kong Fire Department, at 3:34 PM.
The fire consumed several 31-story towers of the housing complex, which consists of eight blocks and approximately 2,000 residential units, generating an intense column of smoke, dramatic scenes of flames visible from a great distance, and throwing debris outside.
Twelve people, including a firefighter, died and at least 16 others were seriously injured in a fire that devastated the Tai Po neighborhood in Hong Kong. The flames consumed bamboo scaffolding that stretched across all eight blocks of a housing complex, trapping several other residents inside the buildings.
Local sources reported that a firefighter may be among the dead, although this has not yet been officially confirmed.
The relevant authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. So far, the use of bamboo scaffolding—traditional in Hong Kong but known for its high fire risk—is being cited as a factor that exacerbated the spread of the flames.
The fire caused severe traffic disruptions: a section of the district’s main highway was temporarily closed, forcing the diversion of several bus routes.
This tragic episode reignites the debate surrounding the safety of residential buildings in Hong Kong—specifically regarding the use of flammable external structures and the need to update safety and inspection standards in urban renovation and construction projects.
Rescue teams remain on site, focusing their efforts on locating possible survivors and ensuring the complete evacuation of the affected buildings. At the same time, authorities are urging the public to remain calm and recommending that they avoid the area to facilitate emergency work.
