Hong Kong multiple tower block fires.

[cleavers]

36 dead and at least 279 missing.

Fire has been burning in about 7 tower blocks for about 12 hours now, looks horondous, and over 4500 residents will be without a home.

 

[JRockBlues]

Absolutely devastating. Bamboo on the outsides helping the fire to spread. Such a catastrophe.

 

[jimharri]

Absolutely devastating. Bamboo on the outsides helping the fire to spread. Such a catastrophe.

Who the fuck thought it'd be a good idea to clad the building in bamboo?

 

[hilts]

Holy fuck that looks horrendous, prayers go out to the residents.

 

[hallsteve62]

Who the fuck thought it'd be a good idea to clad the building in bamboo?

I believe it's bamboo scaffolding.

 

[heslops barnet]

I believe it's bamboo scaffolding.

Common usage in HK I believe

 

[hilts]

Common usage in HK I believe

What!!!!!!!!!

 

[heslops barnet]

What!!!!!!!!!

“Hong Kong still uses bamboo scaffolding, such as the fact that it’s significantly lighter than steel, cheaper, sustainable, and durable. Moreover, it’s been used in Hong Kong for centuries, so its use has been more or less perfected.”

 

[super_city_si]

Horrific. Tragically I think that body count will rise considerably.

 

[super_city_si]

Who the fuck thought it'd be a good idea to clad the building in bamboo?

Fucking mental. No wonder its spread to all the towers.

 

[hilts]

“Hong Kong still uses bamboo scaffolding, such as the fact that it’s significantly lighter than steel, cheaper, sustainable, and durable. Moreover, it’s been used in Hong Kong for centuries, so its use has been more or less perfected.”

Mental

 

[discopop]

I worked on mainland China and HK for years and Bamboo was all they ever used even hard hats were made out of the stuff.

Looks a devastating outcome which might change practices.

 

[jimharri]

Fucking mental. No wonder its spread to all the towers.

Apparently, as some have pointed out, It wasn't cladding (as I wrongly assumed), but scaffolding. Which is just as crazy anyway.

 

[idahoblues]

Nightmare!

 

[The Future’s Blue!]

Poor people.

 

[cleavers]

On googling the properties of burning bamboo, it's quite confusing/complex, it's hard to burn, but it can explode if not halved lengthwise as it's hollow inside, it also contains silica which can be harmful to health if burned.

They still don't seem to have the fire under control.

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

Instantly makes me remember Grenfell. The images of that were horrific, as is this.

Those poor people, completely helpless as to their fate. I can’t imagine that kind of fear.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

On googling the properties of burning bamboo, it's quite confusing/complex, it's hard to burn, but it can explode if not halved lengthwise as it's hollow inside, it also contains silica which can be harmful to health if burned.

They still don't seem to have the fire under control.

We had bamboo flooring at one stage and it was supposedly very fire retardant.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Also on the news today. No one killed which seems incredible.

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- A devastating fire in a crowded slum int the heart of Bangladesh’s capital has destroyed 1,500 shanties, leaving thousands homeless, authorities said Wednesday.

No casualties have been reported

 

[Marklr]

Good report, including the start of the fire at around 5:10 in the vid.