At the least 4 individuals died and several other others remained trapped after a large hearth swept by means of a number of high-rise towers at Wang Fuk Courtroom in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, town authorities and hearth providers division mentioned, in keeping with Reuters.Firefighters continued operations into the night as thick black smoke poured out of the 31-storey residential blocks, which home round 2,000 flats.Officers mentioned they’re nonetheless assessing how many individuals could also be inside. Two residents are in crucial situation with burn accidents, whereas others – together with hearth personnel – have additionally been damage. Witnesses advised the company that residents gathered on a close-by overhead walkway watching the blaze as flames and smoke engulfed buildings surrounded by bamboo scaffolding, which remains to be broadly utilized in Hong Kong development. Scores of fireside engines and ambulances have been deployed to the scene.Native broadcaster TVB reported that Wang Fuk Courtroom, a government-subsidised housing complicated occupied since 1983, was present process main renovation work. The Hearth Providers Division mentioned it acquired hearth studies at 2:51pm (native time), and the scenario was upgraded to a No 4 alarm – the second-highest – at 3:34 pm. The Tai Po district, close to the mainland China border, has a inhabitants of about 300,000 and is among the many many densely packed areas within the metropolis. An identical blaze in Hong Kong’s Kowloon district final 12 months left 5 individuals lifeless.The town’s transport division mentioned a serious stretch of Tai Po Street, one in every of Hong Kong’s key highways, has been closed, with bus routes diverted as a result of ongoing emergency response.