A public inquiry heard that firefighters tackling a major Hong Kong inferno prioritized bringing the blaze under control rather than evacuating residents. The department confirmed the difficulties of rescuing people trapped inside due to the fire's rapid and unprecedented spread.

Firefighters combating Hong Kong’s deadliest inferno in decades prioritised bringing the blaze under control over evacuating residents due to the “unprecedented” scale of the disaster, a public inquiry has heard. Four Fire Services Department officers on Monday shared how the operation unfolded during the initial stage of the 43-hour inferno that ravaged Wang Fuk Court in November, highlighting the difficulties in rescuing residents trapped in their homes due to the flame’s rapid spread across.....