Hong Kong building fire

A fire broke out in a housing complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, spreading across seven nearby high-rise apartment buildings.
Over 13 people died in the accident where nine died at the site, while four others died later in hospital.
Around 700 residents were evacuated from the buildings and moved to temporary shelters set up by district authorities.
The fire spread rapidly along bamboo scaffolding and construction netting fixed on the outer walls of the buildings.
Fire services raised the incident to a Level 5 alert, the highest emergency classification, as the blaze continued well into the night.
Emergency teams deployed over 120 fire trucks and dozens of ambulances; one firefighter died, and another was treated for heat exhaustion.
Officials said many of those trapped were elderly residents, and authorities are now reviewing safety concerns linked to bamboo scaffolding used in construction.