Hong Kong high-rise inferno raises safety concerns in apartments in Odisha

A massive fire in Hong Kong’s northern Tai Po district has left the world shaken. The visuals from Hong Kong have triggered fear among high-rise residents in India as well, including those in Odisha.

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The blaze, which started late last night, ripped through a 35-storey apartment building and spread rapidly to six neighbouring high-rises, reducing the structures to charred frames.

More than 55 people have reportedly died, while many others are battling for survival. Over 250 residents are still missing, and the number of injured has crossed a thousand, according to early estimates.

Officials say the inferno began during renovation work. Bamboo scaffolding erected around the building acted as fuel, causing flames to engulf the complex within moments. Dense black smoke choked thousands as people ran for their lives; some were burnt beyond recognition.

Back in Odisha, in 2017, a blaze at local businessman Satpal Singh’s home near Laxmisagar claimed five lives, including his young son. Cuttack’s shopping mall fire in 2018 burned for nearly seven hours. In 2022, a massive fire at Bhubaneswar’s Keshari Mall destroyed several showrooms. A year later, the blaze at Puri’s Laxmi Market Complex kept firefighters battling for nearly two days.

Fire officials say modern interior design materials, such as plywood, acrylic and sunmica, intensify flames and make them difficult to control. With interiors installed across entire homes, a spark can turn into a raging fire within minutes.

They stress the need to consider fire-safe materials during home design and call for stricter enforcement of fire-safety norms across all residential and commercial buildings.

“Obtaining a fire certificate from the Director General (Fire Services) is mandatory. Around 1,046 applications were submitted, but only 460 fire certificates were issued by the DG,” real-estate rights activist, Bimalendu Pradhan, said to OTV when contacted.