Thick red smoke billows across the area after a fire broke out at a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong's northern Tai Po district on the afternoon of the 26th. Yonhap News

A major fire at a Hong Kong apartment complex on the 26th has claimed at least 36 lives.

According to reports from AP, Reuters, Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily, and the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the fire started around 2:52 p.m. on the 26th at "Wang Fuk Court," a high-rise residential complex in the northern Tai Po district of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee stated early on the 27th that the fire at the scene had been "basically brought under control" and that "at least 36 people (including firefighters) have died and 279 are missing."

Lee emphasized that "this fire is being treated with extreme seriousness, and the immediate priorities are fire suppression and rescue of the injured."

He also reported that 29 people have been taken to the hospital, with seven in critical condition.

The death toll may rise further due to the large number of unaccounted-for individuals and residents trapped in the high-rise buildings.

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the families of the deceased firefighters and victims and urged minimization of the damage, according to state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV).

Hong Kong authorities escalated the fire alarm level to Grade 5, the highest grade, at approximately 6:22 p.m. on the day of the fire. This is the first time a Grade 5 alarm has been issued since the 2008 Mong Kok nightclub fire, which resulted in 4 deaths and 55 injuries.

A total of 128 fire trucks and 57 ambulances were deployed to the scene.

The complex where the fire occurred is reported to house approximately 4,800 residents in 2,000 households.

The fire spread to four buildings, and Hong Kong authorities deployed tourist buses to evacuate residents. Nearby school buildings were opened as temporary shelters, accommodating around 700 people.

The buildings were reportedly undergoing extensive renovation for over a year at the time of the fire. The fire spread through bamboo scaffolding and construction safety nets installed on the exterior walls, leading to towering flames.

AP noted that the Hong Kong government had announced earlier this year a phased ban on the use of bamboo scaffolding in public projects due to safety concerns, a common practice on construction sites in Hong Kong.

Some residents told the SCMP that the fire alarms did not activate when the fire broke out, stating that the damage would have been much greater if the fire had occurred in the middle of the night.

Thick black smoke rises from a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong's northern Tai Po district after a fire broke out on the afternoon of the 26th. Yonhap News

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