Hong Kong fire: Five dead and 27 injured after blaze in apartment building

Three men and two women have been killed during a fire in a largely residential building in Hong Kong.

Another 27 people have been left injured. At least six of them are in a serious condition and one is critical, Hong Kong’s hospital authority said.

Firefighters rushed to the New Lucky House in the Jordan neighbourhood after being called at around 7.53am local time on Wednesday, authorities said.

The fire was extinguished by 9am local time, but police said people could still be heard calling for help from inside the 16-storey building.

People waved towels at their windows to call for help from rescuers, a local broadcaster said.

Built in 1964, the New Lucky House has 200 units.

The blaze is believed to have started at a gym on the first floor, local media added.

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Around 150 people were evacuated to safety, the city’s government said.

Hong Kong chief executive John Lee said authorities have been told to make an “all-out” effort to treat the injured and that different government departments are already investigating what caused the fire.