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At least 13 people were killed and an unknown number of others were reported to be trapped after a massive fire ripped through multiple Hong Kong high-rise residential buildings on Wednesday (November 26), the government announced via Reuters.
Firefighters battled the blaze into the evening as thick black smoke and orange flames were seen billowing from the 31-storey buildings. The fire was reported to have started at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, which has 2,000 residential apartments and takes up eight blocks in the Tai Po district.
The Fire Services Department said it wasn't clear how many people were suspected to still be inside the buildings. A 71-year-old resident with the surname Wong, who broke down in tears, said his wife was among the residents still trapped in one of the buildings during the ongoing fire.
A firefighter with the surname Ho was reported to be among the 13 individuals killed, according to the director of Fire Services, who confirmed that more than 10 people were injured during the blaze. Harry Cheung, 66, a resident at Block Two in one of the complexes, said he heard "a very loud noise at around 2:45 p.m.," at which point he observed the fire in a nearby block.
"I immediately went back to pack up my things," Cheung told Reuters. "I don't even know how I feel right now. I'm just thinking about where I'm going to sleep tonight because I probably won't be able to go back home."
Tai Po is a popular suburban district in the northern part of the Sai Kung Peninsula located in the Eastern New Territories and is the third lowest population density in Hong Kong.