Fire at building in Hong Kong's Kowloon district kills 5, injures 35

Source: TODAY

HONG KONG -- At least five people were killed and 35 others injured after a fire broke out at a residential and commercial building in Hong Kong's bustling Kowloon district on Wednesday (April 10) morning.

Police at 11.30am said the injured had been taken to five hospitals.

A government spokeswoman said five women among the group sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital were in critical condition.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu before noon expressed his deepest condolences to the victims and their families over the fire that earlier started at the 16-storey New Lucky House, which has 240 flats.

Firefighters rushed to the scene on Jordan Road after receiving a call at 7.53am.

People were seen being rescued from Power Gymnasium on the building's first floor, with police and firefighters hours later breaking into dozens of flats to search for any trapped tenants.

A source familiar with the case said some of the flats contained five to six subdivided units each.

The blaze has been listed as a No 3 alarm fire. In Hong Kong, fires are rated on a scale of one to five according to their seriousness.

Police said at 10.55am that two women and three men had died due to the fire.

The fire was brought under control about an hour after the report came through, authorities said.

City leader Lee's office said he had instructed the Hospital Authority to focus on saving the injured, as police and firefighters investigated the fire's cause. Other departments would also work to assist affected residents, it added.

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, the city's No 2 official, told reporters that he was saddened to learn of the fire's many deaths and injuries, saying authorities attached importance to the case and would investigate the cause of the blaze.

"The government is very concerned about major disasters such as this, the police and Fire Services Department will conduct an in-depth investigation of the cause of the fire and how to prevent similar tragedies from happening," he said.

The government set up a temporary shelter at Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre for residents in need.

Some people trapped inside the building were seen at the windows waving white towels to signal for help before firefighters staged a rescue using a firetruck ladder.