Local media reports reveal that more than 24 hours after the initial outbreak, fires continue to rage through at least two apartment complexes. Rescuer efforts are being thwarted by the intense heat, making it challenging to assist those trapped inside.

In a dramatic rescue operation reported by public broadcaster RTHK, a man was pulled to safety from the 16th floor of a tower in the Wang Fuk Court complex, as confirmed by Hong Kong’s fire department.

Bamboo scaffolding, a traditional building method, is under increasing scrutiny for its safety and longevity. Although praised for its flexibility, bamboo is flammable and susceptible to decay over time.

In response, Hong Kong’s Development Bureau has announced that starting from March, half of all new public building projects will employ metal scaffolding. This shift aims to enhance worker safety and align with the construction standards found in “advanced cities.”

However, this decision has sparked criticism among residents who argue that bamboo scaffolding is a significant cultural heritage that should be preserved.

Pressure on Chinese and Hong Kong officials

The catastrophic fire is likely to intensify scrutiny on both Hong Kong and Chinese authorities regarding safety measures.

Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous part of China and run by its own local government that answers to leaders in Beijing. But China has also ramped up control over the city in recent years, especially after huge and sometimes violent democracy protests swept the city in 2019. Dissent has been quashed and protests, once a daily feature of life in Hong Kong, have been snuffed out.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed his condolences to the victims of the disaster, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Xi urged “all-out efforts” from representatives of China’s Central Committee and the Hong Kong Liaison Office to do “everything possible” to assist efforts in minimising casualties and losses from the fire, according to CCTV.

Lee said that he was “saddened” by the deaths caused by the fire, expressing his “deep condolences to the families of the deceased and those who were injured.”