At least 44 people have died after a massive fire tore through public housing apartments in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, leaving 279 residents unaccounted for.
Authorities have arrested three executives from a construction company on suspicion of manslaughter, as investigators probe the use of flammable materials such as mesh and plastic sheets, which may have allowed the fire to spread rapidly.
The blaze, classified as a level five fire; the highest in Hong Kong, has engulfed Wang Fuk Court, a public housing estate consisting of eight 31-storey towers.
More than 800 firefighters have been battling the flames for over 18 hours, working to rescue trapped residents. Among those saved during late-night operations were a baby and an elderly woman, local media reported.
Wang Fuk Court houses nearly 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 residents, according to the 2021 census.
The buildings, constructed in 1983, were undergoing renovations when the fire erupted at 14:51 local time on Wednesday (06:51 GMT). Bamboo scaffolding covering the exterior contributed to the fire spreading quickly across the towers.
Tai Po District Councilor Li Man-kit told BBC Chinese that by around 16:30 local time (08:30 GMT), authorities had opened the local community hall for residents to register after evacuation.
“However, by 18:30, the Kwong Fuk Community Hall, which is closest to the fire, was deemed unsafe. Residents were moved to CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School for shelter,” he said.
In the wake of the disaster, political parties preparing for Hong Kong’s upcoming Legislative Council election have suspended campaign activities.
The New People's Party and the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong announced on social media that they would pause all campaigning. Both parties expressed condolences to families of the victims and urged the public to unite in support of affected residents.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended his condolences for the lives lost in the fire, state broadcaster CCTV reports. Authorities continue to search for missing residents and are investigating how renovation materials may have worsened the fire.
