13 people killed as massive fire breaks out at residential building in Hong Kong

At least 13 people died, and several others remain trapped after a massive fire tore through a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district. Nine people were declared dead at the scene, and four more succumbed in the hospital.

At least 15 people were injured, and around 700 were evacuated to temporary shelters. The blaze, reported at 2:51 pm on Wednesday, was quickly upgraded to a No. 5 alarm.

Videos from the scene showed firefighters using ladder trucks to battle intense flames, while thick smoke poured from the towers. Firefighters deployed 128 fire trucks and 57 ambulances to the scene. Earlier, police said they received multiple reports of people trapped in the affected towers.

Wang Fuk Court is an eight-block housing complex with nearly 2,000 residential units.