"A fire spread across seven high-rise apartment buildings in a Hong Kong housing complex, killing 13 people and leaving others still trapped, the city's fire services said Wednesday. Nine people were declared dead at the scene and four others who were sent to the hospital were later confirmed dead, authorities told reporters. At least 15 others were injured, and about 700 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters."
"The fire was still raging late into the night, and authorities said conditions remained very challenging for firefighters. "Debris and scaffolding of the affected buildings are falling down," said Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of Fire Services (Operations). "The temperature inside the buildings concerned (is) very high. It's difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations.""
A fierce blaze spread across seven of eight high-rise blocks in a Tai Po housing complex, killing 13 people and leaving others trapped. Nine died at the scene and four more later at hospital. At least 15 were injured and about 700 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters. The fire raced along bamboo scaffolding and construction netting on the exterior, aided by windy conditions, and entered apartments. Hundreds of firefighters, police and paramedics were deployed and the incident was raised to a level 5 alarm. Falling debris and extreme internal temperatures made entry and upper-floor rescues very difficult. The cause remains unknown.
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