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| The deadly fire raged into the night (photo credit to owner) |
Fire is still raging at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po 10 hours after it began, killing at least 13 people, including a fireman who was among dozens deployed to fight the blaze.
As of midnight, a government spokesman said 33
people have been injured I the blaze, seven of them in critical condition, 13
serious, and eight stable. The condition of one victim is unknown while four
have been discharged after treatment.
The fire that broke out at 2:51pm quickly spread through
bamboo scaffolding erected over seven blocks in the housing estate, and was upgraded
to the No. 5 alarm, the highest in Hong Kong, in less than four hours.
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| DETAILS HERE |
At least one Filipina domestic worker who reportedly
arrived in Hong Kong only the previous day was reported to have been trapped in
one of the buildings that caught fire, along with her female employer and a
baby.
The worker, identified as Rhodora Alcaraz Tonacao,
sent an audio message to a friend, asking for help. “Tulungan ninyo kami, nasusunugan na kami dito, na stuck na kami sa
room, ang usok na dito sa loob, hawak ko ang baby…” said Rhodora.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
(Please help us, our house is on fire and we’re
stuck in a room. There’s thick smoke, and I am carrying the baby).
But shortly after midnight, the assistance to nationals
section of the Migrant Workers Office said Rhodora, her employer and the baby
were all safe.
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| Rhodora's eldest sister Jacqueline appealed for help on Facebook |
Earlier, Consul General Romulo Israel, Jr. told The
SUN they had been informed about Rhodora’s appeal and has already asked Hong Kong
authorities for assistance.
“It’s tragic and heartbreaking to see such a fire of
this magnitude engulf residential buildings where FDWs may be working,” Congen
Israel said earlier. “But as of now, we have not received official report on
any Filipinos that might have been affected.’
He added that the Consulate is praying hard for the
victims, their families and the rescuers, “that God may show mercy and help the
firemen and responders to put out the fire.”
Officials of the Consulate, including those at MWO
and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, were up until past midnight to
respond to queries and any appeals for help for Filipinos who might have been
trapped in the inferno.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee inspected
the temporary shelter for affected residents at Tai Po Community Centre on
Wednesday night, before proceeding to Prince of Wales Hospital to check on the
condition of the injured victims.
The Tai Po fire was one of the city’s deadliest, and
triggered the maximum No 5 alarm for the first time in 17 years.
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| It's the first time in 17 years that the no 5 fire alarm was triggered |
CE Lee is expected to provide further updates on the fire after his visits.
Several government officials including the Secretary
for Security Tang Ping-keung and Civil Service Secretary Ingrid Yeung, expressed
sorrow over the death of fireman Ho Wai-ho who sustained injuries while
fighting the fire.
He was rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital for
treatment but succumbed to his injuries later.
