A deadly blaze tore through a residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, killing at least four people and injuring three others, according to officials. Images and video from the scene showed multiple buildings severely scorched as firefighters battled towering flames and thick smoke.

The fire erupted at Wang Fuk Court at 2:51 p.m. local time, authorities said. Within minutes, it escalated rapidly—raised to a No. 3 alarm at 3:02 p.m., then to No. 4 by 3:34 p.m. By 6:22 p.m., the blaze had been classified as a No. 5 alarm, one of the highest emergency levels in Hong Kong’s system, signaling a major firefighting operation.

Nine people were transported to nearby hospitals. Four were pronounced dead, while three others remained in critical condition. One patient was listed as serious, and another in stable condition.

Emergency crews continued working into the evening to contain the fire and assess damage. Authorities have not yet released details about the cause of the blaze, and an investigation is underway.

The incident marks one of the most serious residential fires in the city this year, prompting renewed concerns about building safety and emergency preparedness in densely populated districts.