Hong Kong blaze: what we all know up to now
Virtually 280 individuals are nonetheless lacking amid the Hong Kong blaze that has killed no less than 44 individuals and left dozens extra in vital situation.
Our just-launched rundown on what we all know up to now concerning the fireplace additionally particulars the way it has not but been totally extinguished however the flames within the 4 buildings are beneath management.
The Wang Fuk Court docket complicated is made up of eight 32-storey towers, containing about 2,000 flats, and had been being renovated on the time.
Three males aged between 52 and 68 had been, as reported, arrested on Thursday morning on suspicion of manslaughter.
Firefighters and rescue crews began looking the decrease ranges of a number of the buildings on Thursday. Twenty-six rescue groups are on website.
Greater than 900 individuals have been evacuated to non permanent shelters because the rescue work continues.
See the complete rundown right here:
Key occasions
We’ve simply launched a video report that features how a police taskforce has been set as much as examine the reason for the fireplace on the Hong Kong house complicated.
Authorities say three males aged 52 to 68 have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter linked to the blaze.
The report additionally has residents describing the fireplace, together with one man who stated his spouse was lacking. He stated she tried to flee.
However as soon as she left the flat the hall and stairs had been all stuffed with smoke and it was all darkish so she had no alternative however to return to the flat.
See the video right here:
Listed here are some recent pictures which have arrived from the fireplace scene in Hong Kong.
Circling again to the beginning of the fireplace, officers stated it started on the exterior scaffolding of one of many buildings mid-afternoon on Wednesday and later unfold inside it after which to close by buildings, most likely assisted by windy situations.
Fireplace chiefs stated the excessive temperatures on the scene made it tough for crews to mount rescue operations. A column of flames and thick smoke rose because the blaze unfold shortly on bamboo scaffolding and development netting that had been arrange across the exterior of the buildings.
Firefighters aimed water on the intense flames from excessive up on ladder vans, because the Related Press reported.
The blaze was upgraded to a degree 5 alarm – the very best degree of severity – as evening fell. Firefighters deployed greater than 200 fireplace autos and about 100 ambulances.
By early Thursday the blaze had been introduced beneath management however firefighters are persevering with to extinguish it totally.
Noting now that whereas Hong Kong chief John Lee stated early on Thursday that 279 individuals had been unaccounted for, firefighters stated later that they’d established contact with a few of them.
Lee stated greater than 900 individuals had sought refuge at non permanent shelters.
A police officer at one of many shelters advised AFP it was unclear how many individuals had been unaccounted for as a result of residents had been nonetheless trickling in late into the evening to report lacking members of the family.
Among the many 44 confirmed lifeless was a 37-year-old firefighter who was discovered with burns on his face half an hour after shedding contact with colleagues, stated fireplace service director Andy Yeung.
Extra phrase right here from residents of the Hong Kong neighbourhood the place the fireplace broke out.
“I actually suppose it’s very scary. I’m watching it unfold from only one constructing to a few, then 4,” Veezy Chan, 25, stated on Wednesday. “It’s actually terrifying.”
Shirley Chan referred to as the tragedy terribly unhappy. “Think about a house – gone, burnt. Anybody can be heartbroken. I can relate to that; it’s really heartbreaking.
A house, gone in flames. I can’t even put it into phrases.
Agence France-Presse additionally quoted a 65-year-old surnamed Yuen as saying his neighbourhood was house to many aged residents who used wheelchairs and walkers, and the fireplace left him and his spouse homeless.
He stated that because the house complicated was present process upkeep, many residents stored their home windows shut, so they didn’t hear the fireplace alarm.
Residents additionally stated they’d by no means anticipated the flames would unfold to different buildings with the wind and burn all evening lengthy.
Chan stated she “watched the fireplace burn and couldn’t do something”.
Listed here are two of the most recent photos coming in as Hong Kong firefighters proceed work to totally extinguish the devastating blaze.
{Photograph}: Vernon Yuen/Nexpher/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
It’s approaching 8.45am in Hong Kong and firefighters are nonetheless dousing the blaze that has torn by the high-rise complicated.
After dawn on Thursday some flats had been nonetheless burning however the fireplace had noticeably dimmed through the early hours of the morning, Agence France-Presse is reporting.
Hong Kong blaze: what we all know up to now
Virtually 280 individuals are nonetheless lacking amid the Hong Kong blaze that has killed no less than 44 individuals and left dozens extra in vital situation.
Our just-launched rundown on what we all know up to now concerning the fireplace additionally particulars the way it has not but been totally extinguished however the flames within the 4 buildings are beneath management.
The Wang Fuk Court docket complicated is made up of eight 32-storey towers, containing about 2,000 flats, and had been being renovated on the time.
Three males aged between 52 and 68 had been, as reported, arrested on Thursday morning on suspicion of manslaughter.
Firefighters and rescue crews began looking the decrease ranges of a number of the buildings on Thursday. Twenty-six rescue groups are on website.
Greater than 900 individuals have been evacuated to non permanent shelters because the rescue work continues.
See the complete rundown right here:
The reason for the Hong Kong blaze just isn’t but recognized however the fireplace has been fanned by inexperienced development mesh and bamboo scaffolding – a mainstay of conventional Chinese language structure however topic to a phase-out in Hong Kong since March for security causes.
Hong Kong is among the final locations on the planet the place bamboo continues to be extensively used for scaffolding in development.
On mainland China, the place use of bamboo in development originated from historic instances, scaffolding is now primarily steel, Reuters experiences.
Hong Kong’s authorities moved to begin phasing out bamboo scaffolding in March, citing employee security after 22 deaths involving bamboo scaffolders between 2019 and 2024.
It introduced that fifty% of public development works can be required to make use of steel frames as an alternative.
‘It’s heartbreaking’
Phrase from residents of the housing complicated has been coming by, together with a 71-year-old resident surnamed Wong who stated by tears that his spouse was trapped inside.
Harry Cheung, who has lived at block 2 in one of many complexes for greater than 40 years, stated he heard a loud noise about 2.45pm and noticed fireplace erupt in a close-by block.
“I instantly went again to pack up my issues,” the 66-year-old advised Reuters.
I don’t even understand how I really feel proper now. I’m simply interested by the place I’m going to sleep tonight as a result of I most likely gained’t be capable to return house.
Dozens of surprised residents, many sobbing, have been watching the blaze as smoke billowed from the housing complicated.
“There’s nothing that may be performed concerning the property. We will solely hope that everybody, irrespective of outdated or younger, can return safely,” a Tai Po resident who gave their surname as So advised Agence France-Presse close to the scene.
It’s heartbreaking. We’re anxious there are individuals trapped inside.
China’s chief Xi Jinping has urged an “all-out effort” to extinguish the Hong Kong fireplace and to minimise casualties and losses, Chinese language state broadcaster CCTV has reported.
He additionally prolonged condolences to victims’ households and others affected.
Part of the Tai Po Street closed
A complete part of the Tai Po Street – considered one of Hong Kong’s two important highways – has been closed as a result of fireplace, and buses are being diverted.
At the very least six faculties can be closed on Thursday due to the fireplace and visitors congestion, Reuters quoted town’s training bureau as saying.
Wang Fuk Court docket is considered one of many high-rise housing complexes in Hong Kong, one of many world’s most densely populated areas. Tai Po, positioned close to the border with mainland China, is a longtime suburban district with about 300,000 residents.
Right here’s the most recent on the fireplace
-
Forty-four individuals are confirmed lifeless after Hong Kong’s worst fireplace in many years, with dozens extra presently in hospital. At the very least 279 individuals are nonetheless lacking as firefighters and rescue crews start looking a number of the buildings.
-
The fires haven’t been totally extinguished, though the flames in 4 buildings are beneath management.
-
Three individuals had been arrested early this morning native time on suspicion of manslaughter. Police didn’t present any particulars about what the trio had been accused of doing, though a police spokesperson advised the New York Occasions they’re two administrators of a development firm and one guide.
-
Officers stated they’ll take a look at supplies used within the buildings exterior they are saying might have contributed to the blaze, in addition to the bamboo scaffolding surrounding the towers, which had been present process renovations.
-
Greater than 900 individuals have been evacuated to non permanent shelters because the rescue work continues.
Evacuees from the Wang Fuk Court docket residential property relaxation in close by shelters.
Fireplace beneath management at 4 buildings in Wang Fuk Court docket complicated
The flames at 4 of the residential buildings within the Wang Fuk Court docket complicated are actually beneath management. The South China Morning Put up experiences search efforts have began in these buildings on decrease ranges, with rescue groups slowly shifting up by the thirteenth to twenty third flooring of a few of these towers.
They’re anticipated to succeed in the highest flooring within the coming hours, with 26 rescue groups on website.
The South China Morning Put up additionally experiences that police stated they haven’t dominated out foam supplies used to seal home windows on the buildings and for different functions contributed to the fast unfold of the flames.
Police affirm three individuals arrested on suspicion of manslaughter
Hong Kong police confirmed three individuals between the ages of 52 and 68 have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
