13 dead in Hong Kong as fire spreads on bamboo scaffolding

700 firefighters are battling the fire

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• Thirteen people have died and at least 15 others injured in a fire across several high-rise apartment blocks in Hong Kong.
• The huge fire spread across multiple buildings at Wang Fuk Court housing estate in the northern Tai Po district. The estate is home to around 4,600 people and contains nearly 2,000 flats in high-rise buildings.
• A total of 767 firefighters across 128 fire engines, 57 ambulances and 400 police officers are at the scene battling the fire.
• The fire was reported at 2.51pm local time (6.51am GMT). The fire broke out in a block called Wang Cheong House but soon spread to neighbouring Wang Tai House and Wang Shing House before engulfing the entire cluster.
• Flames spread along bamboo scaffolding and construction netting surrounding the buildings. Major renovations were underway, using bamboo scaffolding rather than steel, which is common in Hong Kong.
• Officials quickly upgraded the fire from a level four at 3.34pm to the top-level number five at 6.22pm due to its rapid spread.
• Over 1,000 people living nearby have been evacuated from the area. In total, 4,600 residents live in the housing estate, across 1,984 apartments.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered his condolences to the families of those who died in the fire, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
• Read more in our live blog: Hong Kong fire LIVE: At least 13 killed as huge blaze rips through apartments