Fire guts 39-storey Hong Kong WTC

HONG KONG: More than 1,200 people have been rescued from Hong Kong’s World Trade Centre (WTC) as dozens of firefighters managed to extinguish a fire that ripped through one of the city’s busiest buildings and left more than a dozen injured.

Police at the scene told reporters that everyone at the 39-story structure in Causeway Bay has been brought to safety by after more than 300 were trapped earlier on the rooftop of the building, which houses both offices and a shopping centre.

“This is one of the busiest shopping districts and it has caused a lot of chaos and a lot of stress,” said Clennett. “This happened duringpeak hour,” she added.

“There would have been many people inside that building having lunch with their colleagues, perhaps out shopping.”

Police said they had opened an investigation into the cause of the fire. Wednesday’s blaze triggered a large response, with firefighters seen using several using emergency ladders to evacuate people. Firefighters mobilised two breathing apparatus teams and two water jets to help fight the fire, police said. – AL JAZEERA