Hong Kong tower inferno leaves at least 13 dead, many trapped amid rapid spread

A fire ravaged 7 towers of a high-rise Hong Kong housing complex in Tai Po on Wednesday, killing at least 13 people and leaving others trapped inside, authorities said.

According to multiple reports, the fire spread quickly due to bamboo scaffolding at the building for exterior renovation work.

In September this year, super typhoon Ragasa lashed Hong Kong with storms and hurricane-force winds on par with those packed by super typhoon Saola in 2023 and typhoon Wipha in July, but they paled in comparison to those brought by Mangkhut.

Torrential rains battered the city back then, which had recorded up to 200 mm of rainfall, according to the Hong Kong observatory.

Storm surge caused by Ragasa elevated the water level at the Victoria Harbour to around 3.4 meters above the Chart Datum. Waves crashed on the shores and caused waterlogging.

As Ragasa took its toll, around 100 residents had sought emergency treatment at public hospitals for injuries sustained during the storm.

The Fire Services Department of the government had responded to 393 cases of snapped trees and one case of mudslide and relocated 61 residents trapped by waterlogging.

(with inputs from syndicated feed)