Hong Kong - Rescue operations were still underway following a No. 5 alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court, a residential area in Tai Po of Hong Kong, which broke out Wednesday afternoon.

The Fire Services Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government was notified of the accident at around 2:51 p.m. local time. Due to the fierce blaze, the department raised the alert to No. 5 alarm fire at 6:22 p.m. local time.

Wang Fuk Court consists of eight residential buildings, all of which were undergoing major renovations, including exterior wall repairs. At the time of the accident, scaffolding and protective netting covered the buildings. The fire spread from one building to seven others.

Chief Executive of the HKSAR John Lee chaired an interdepartmental emergency meeting on the fire. An emergency monitoring and support center had been immediately activated. He was briefed by the Security Bureau and the Fire Services Department, and instructed relevant departments to make every effort in firefighting, rescue, and cure work.

According to the Fire Services Department, by 8 p.m. local time, a total of 128 fire engines and 57 ambulances had been deployed, with 767 firefighters engaged in the operation.

HKSAR government departments were fully assisting residents affected by the fire, including arranging temporary shelters for displaced residents and providing assistance and mental support to the families of the deceased and injured. The Hospital Authority of Hong Kong has also activated its emergency mechanism to make every effort to save and care for the injured.

The Education Bureau of the HKSAR government dispatched educational psychologists and related staff to temporary shelters to provide appropriate support for affected students. Several schools in the district will suspend classes on Thursday.

At one of the temporary shelters, personnel from the Home Affairs Department, Civil Aid Service, Care Teams, and the Police Force worked together, each fulfilling their roles and coordinating efforts.

Lam Yick Kuen, a Tai Po Care Team member and district councilor, said that many organizations and individuals had voluntarily donated supplies, demonstrating solidarity and mutual care in times of crisis.

Near midnight, a Hong Kong resident, Mr. Ho, was seen pulling a small cart to the fire scene to distribute water to firefighters and staff. Drenched in sweat, he went around asking whether anyone needed a drink.