A fire ripped through a Hong Kong market popular among tourists early Wednesday morning, leaving dozens of people wounded and at least 9 others dead. Government officials said the fire broke out shortly before 5 a.m. at a hawker stall on Fu Yuen Street in the crowded Mong Kok district of Kowloon peninsula. The blaze spread to nearby residential buildings.
Dozens of firefighters fought the blaze and helped evacuate around 400 people from buildings in danger. The fire was finally extinguished around noon.
Police say at least 12 stalls were destroyed. The charred remains of 9 people have been recovered. At least 34 people were injured and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Four of the injured are in critical condition.
Fire officials suspect arson and have launched an investigation. "The cause of the blaze is suspicious because our team who arrived at the scene saw both sides of the stall were on fire at the same time," a chief fire officer told reporters.
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