A devastating fire broke out in a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in four fatalities and multiple injuries. The blaze, which erupted at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, quickly escalated to a No. 4 alarm, the second-highest emergency level, by 3:34 p.m. local time. According to the Hong Kong government, four individuals were confirmed dead, two are in critical condition, and one is stable as of 5:00 p.m. Public broadcaster RTHK reported that several people remain trapped inside the burning buildings, with two individuals suffering severe burns. Firefighters, some of whom were injured while battling the flames, faced significant challenges due to the scale of the fire and the presence of bamboo scaffolding on several adjacent towers. The incident has also disrupted local transportation, with the Tai Po highway closed and bus routes diverted. Wang Fuk Court, a housing complex comprising eight blocks and nearly 2,000 residential units, is now the site of a tragic disaster that has left the community in shock.
