Hong Kong high-rise blaze kills at least 65, hundreds missing

New Delhi, Nov 27: At least 65 people have died in a massive fire that swept through a high-rise public housing complex in Hong Kong, with hundreds still unaccounted for, BBC reported on Thursday.

The blaze broke out at Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district at 14:51 local time on Wednesday and spread across the complex.

The housing estate, built in 1983, consists of eight towers, each 31 storeys high, and contains 1,984 apartments. According to a 2021 government census, it is home to around 4,600 residents, though it remains unclear how many were inside when the fire began. The flames tore through seven of the eight tower blocks, BBC said. Firefighters have managed to bring four of the buildings under control, and authorities hope to contain the remaining fires by evening. Thick smoke continued to hang over the area on Thursday afternoon. Investigations are ongoing, and emergency services continue search and rescue operations as families await news of their loved ones.

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