Charred body found after blaze put out in Hong Kong public housing flat

A charred body was discovered after firefighters extinguished a blaze in a residential flat at a public housing estate in Hong Kong on Sunday night.

Shortly before 10pm, flames were seen shooting out of the flat’s windows, accompanied by thick smoke, on the 21st floor of Tsuen Wing Lau at Lai Tak Estate in Tai Hang.

Multiple calls were made to emergency services and more than 70 residents fled to safety.

It took firefighters until 10.29pm to extinguish the blaze.

Authorities were working to identify the victim and determine the cause of the fire.

In December last year, a fire broke out in Lai Kit Lau, another block of the estate, killing two cats inside. Two tortoises survived the blaze.