Five dead, dozens injured in Hong Kong building fire

A fire in a large, mostly residential building in Hong Kong has killed at least five people and left another 36 injured.

About 250 residents were rescued from the New Lucky House in Hong Kong's Jordan neighbourhood on Wednesday morning and the fire was extinguished.

The fire services department said the blaze began on the first and second floors of the 16-storey building, where a gym and licensed guest rooms were located.

More investigation was needed into the cause of the fire, officials said.

The five who died were apparently trying to escape the building.

The New Lucky House has 200 units and was built in 1964.

Hong Kong chief executive John Lee expressed his condolences to victims' families and said the relevant departments were instructed to provide assistance to all those affected by the fire.

with Reuters