At least 44 people have been killed in a huge fire that has engulfed multiple high-rise buildings in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district.
There are reports that some residents were trapped in the building, and police say 279 people are still missing.
More than 760 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze on Wednesday afternoon, with pictures showing flames and thick clouds of grey smoke billowing from the towers, dominating the city’s skyline.
Three men have since been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter connected to the fire, according to local media reports, and an investigation has been launched.
The blaze broke out at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex at 14:51 local time (06:51 GMT) and was classified as a level five – the highest in severity – by the fire department at 18:22.
The complex was undergoing extensive renovations when the fire began.
The exact cause of the fire is unknown but police say a mesh material and plastic sheets were found outside the buildings – both of which are not believed to be fireproof. Styrofoam was also found on the building’s windows. These materials may have caused the fire to spread more quickly, said police.
The police spokesperson said: “We have reason to believe that those in charge at the company were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties.”
Among those hospitalised, 45 are in a serious condition. The injured were sent to hospitals in various districts.
Firefighter Ho Wai-ho, 37, was among those killed in the blaze. He was found collapsed at the scene about 30 minutes after contact with him was lost.
The fierce heat of the blaze, as well as dangerous debris has hampered rescue efforts.
“The temperature inside the buildings concerned are very high, so it’s quite difficult for us to enter… and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operation,” said Derek Armstrong Chan, the deputy director of fire services.
The fire has yet to be extinguished and officials have said they were unsure when it would be.
Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and is made up of eight tower blocks that provide 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 residents, according to a 2021 government census. Seven of the towers have been affected by the fire.
