MORE than 300 people were trapped on a roof by a huge fire at Hong Kong's World Trade Centre.

       The stranded people were waiting to be rescued after a blaze broke out at the 38-storey skyscraper in Causeway Bay - a busy shopping district.

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       More than 300 people were trapped on the roof of Hong Kong's World Trade Centre-1 Credit: MS LAI 5

       Eight people have been injured after the blaze broke out at the 38-storey building Credit: Reuters

       According to local media, more than 1,200 people have now been evacuated from the building.

       Eight injured people, aged between 31 and 72, have been rushed to hospital.

       No deaths have been reported as rescue operations continue after the inferno broke out in an electrical switch room at 12.37pm local time.

       Seven of the eight people injured suffered smoke inhalation, with a woman, 52, suffering leg injuries.

       At least 300 people, including diners at a top-floor restaurant and shoppers, raced to the roof as smoke billowed inside the building.

       By 2pm local time, firefighters had rescued 160 people from an open-air area on the fifth floor.

       Other people were trapped in restaurants in the mall, the South China Morning Post reports.

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       Hong Kong police said the blaze erupted in the machine room before scaffolding caught fire.

       Office worker Ernest Chan, 28, was evacuated to the roof, but walked down the staircase to escape.

       He told the South China Morning Post: "Initially we were walking down but at around the 17th floor we heard that there’s heavy smoke, so we decided to head to the roof instead

       "But we waited for too long and the visibility seemed clear, so we walked down again.

       "If we didn’t make this call we would still be waiting upstairs."

       FIRE HORROR

       A woman, who works at a beauty parlour on the 19th floor, said she did not hear any alarms and luckily left the building because it was her lunch break.

       She told The Standard: "I went into the lift and there was much smoke… I am surprised that we could go into the lift when there was a fire."

       The World Trade Centre is currently undergoing building renovation.

       Today's fire is being classed as a level three incident, with five the most severe.

       The blaze at the 38-storey World Trade Centre on Gloucester Road was first reported at 12.37pm.

       Firefighters are battling the fire with two water jets and were using breathing apparatus.

       Crews also deployed a extendable ladder to rescue people trapped on the lower floors.

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       Firefighters work to rescue the stricken residents Credit: twitter @HakanK0006 5

       Firefighters rescued 160 people from an open-air area on the fifth floor. Credit: Reuters 5

       Fire crews have used water jets to tackle the blaze Credit: AP