In Hong Kong, a fire has killed at least 13 people after tearing through a complex of residential high-rise buildings on Wednesday.

Teams of firefighters have been attempting to douse the flames at Wang Fuk Court, a housing complex made up of eight blocks in the city's Tai Po district in the north east.

What we know about the fire

"The Fire Services Department handled a total of 28 casualties, nine of whom were certified dead at the scene. Six others were sent to hospital in serious condition, and four of them later died," Chou Wing-yin of the Fire Services Department told a press briefing at around 8:15 p.m. (1215 GMT).

According to local media reports, one of the dead was a firefighter.

The fire department said it received reports at 2:51 p.m. (0651 GMT) of a fire in the residential complex. It was upgraded to a Number 4 alarm at 3:34 p.m. and as night fell it was declared a five-alarm fire, the highest level.

Firefighters deployed 128 fire trucks and 57 ambulances to the scene.

"Debris and scaffolding of the affected buildings are falling down," said deputy director of Fire Services Derek Armstrong Chan.

"The temperature inside the buildings concerned (is) very high. It's difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations."

Reports some residents trapped

Earlier, local media also reported that an unknown number of people were trapped in the 31-storey towers — housing around 2,000 residential apartments — although it is unclear as to whether that remains the case.

Taipo District Council member, Lo Hiu-fung, told local broadcaster TVB that most of the residents trapped in the fire were believed to be elderly people, the AP news agency reported, although this has not yet been confirmed by authorities.

"The fire is not yet under control and I dare not leave, and I don't know what I can do," a resident told AFP adding that the government needed to help those made homeless by the blaze.

A number of towers currently burning have bamboo scaffolding and construction netting fitted to their exterior.

TVB reported that the complex was undergoing major renovations.

Smoke and flames still billowing from building complex

Live footage from the Reuters news agency showed large columns of smoke billowing from several buildings and as darkness fell, fires could be seen burning on multiple floors and apartments of the complex. 

"Residents nearby are advised to stay indoors, close their doors and windows, and stay calm,"  the Fire Services Department said.

Parts of a nearby highway have been closed by the ongoing firefighting operation.

Tai Po is a suburban area situated in the northern part of Hong Kong, near the border with the mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen.

Edited by Sean Sinico