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