Hong Kong fire that killed dozens under control'; hundreds still missing

"Firefighters in Hong Kong are working for a second day to put out a large blaze at a residential complex that has killed at least 65 people in the Chinese territory's deadliest and most destructive fire in 60 years. Officials said on Thursday that flames in four buildings in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, located in the Tai Po neighbourhood, had been extinguished and fires in the rest of the site were under control."

"But rescuers are still racing to reach people feared trapped on the upper floors of the complex, where at least 279 people are unaccounted for. Resident Lawrence Lee said he still had not heard from his wife, who he believes is trapped in their apartment. When the fire started, I told her on the phone to escape. But once she left the flat, the corridor and stairs were all filled with smoke, and it was all dark, so she had no choice but to go back to the flat, he said."

"The death toll from the disaster stands at 65, including one firefighter, according to the Hong Kong Fire Services Department. More than 70 people have been injured, according to the Hospital Authority, many suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. Al Jazeera's Katrina Yu, reporting from Beijing, said people in mainland China have been watching aghast as the tragedy unfolds. I think many people in China feel a lot of sympathy and empathy for those who are affected."

A large fire swept through the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong, killing at least 65 people and injuring more than 70, many with burns and smoke inhalation. Flames spread across seven buildings after igniting on bamboo scaffolding and construction netting, and authorities suspect exterior wall materials failed fire-resistance standards, accelerating the spread. Firefighters extinguished flames in four buildings and reported other fires under control, while rescuers raced to reach people feared trapped on upper floors. At least 279 residents remain unaccounted for and one firefighter is among the dead. Mainland residents expressed sympathy given similar dense high-rise living conditions.

Read at www.aljazeera.com