At least 55 people have died in a massive fire engulfing public housing apartments in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, with more than 270 residents still unaccounted for.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze, which has sparked questions about building safety and accountability.
Fifty-one people died at the scene and four in hospital, a spokesperson said at a news conference. One firefighter has also lost his life battling the blaze.
Officials reported that the fire is now under control in four of the seven affected buildings, with hopes to extinguish the remaining fires by Thursday evening.
Three construction company executives have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence, after authorities noted the use of highly flammable materials, including mesh and plastic sheets, that may have allowed the fire to spread rapidly.
Investigators are continuing to examine the role of substandard renovation materials in the disaster.
The fire, classified earlier as a level five blaze—the most severe in Hong Kong—broke out at a public housing complex undergoing renovations.
Hundreds of residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters while emergency housing units are being arranged.
Experts have pointed to construction practices that may have worsened the fire. Jason Poon, chairman of construction NGO Chinat Monitor, said proper netting on building exteriors is critical in preventing fires from spreading.
Engineers have noted that most mesh netting in Hong Kong is not fire-retardant and that debris, cardboard, and thinner left on scaffolding could accelerate fires, especially in dry weather.
Fire officials also reported the presence of extremely flammable styrofoam boards covering windows at the Wang Fuk Court apartment blocks.
This tragedy marks Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in more than 60 years. The toll eclipses the 1962 Sham Shui Po inferno, which killed 44 people, and surpasses the 1996 Garley Building fire in Kowloon, which killed 41.
The deadliest fire in Hong Kong’s history occurred in 1948 following an explosion at a warehouse containing dangerous goods, killing 176 people.
Authorities have suspended campaigning for the Legislative Council election scheduled for December 7 to prioritize relief efforts. Investigations into the origin of the fire and accountability for the disaster remain ongoing.