A major fire broke out in Hong Kong’s Tai Po on Wednesday afternoon, as fierce flames spread across bamboo scaffolding along a housing estate building, leaving one man with severe burns and trapping several residents.

Photos circulating online showed dark smoke billowing high into the sky from the scene.

The Fire Services Department received a call at 2.51pm reporting a fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

Police said that it has received multiple reports of people trapped in the building, with one man sustaining severe burns.

The blaze was initially classified as a No 1 alarm fire but was quickly raised to No 4.

In Hong Kong, fires are rated on a scale of one to five, with higher numbers indicating greater severity.

More to follow …