Firefighters continued battling one of Hong Kong’s most deadly modern fires on Thursday, as flames ravaged multiple high-rise towers and at least 44 people were confirmed dead.
Rescues remained ongoing, and three men from a construction company were arrested in connection with the blaze.
Thick smoke continued to pour from the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, a northern suburb near the mainland border.
The fire, which erupted Wednesday afternoon, had spread across seven of the eight buildings, though four towers were reported under control by Thursday morning.
At least 62 people were injured, many with burns or smoke inhalation, including one firefighter among the deceased.
Police arrested three men — two company directors and an engineering consultant — on suspicion of manslaughter.
“We have reason to believe that those in charge of the construction company were grossly negligent,” said senior superintendent Eileen Chung.
Investigators suspect that some materials used on the exterior walls failed fire-resistance standards, which may have accelerated the spread.
Styrofoam, highly flammable, was also found attached near elevators in one tower, likely installed by the company, though its purpose remains unclear.
The fire began on the external scaffolding of a 32-story building, spreading through bamboo scaffolding and netting, and then into other buildings, aided by strong winds.
Firefighters battled the intense flames with ladder trucks, but high temperatures, falling debris, and unstable scaffolding hampered rescue operations.
The complex houses nearly 2,000 apartments for about 4,800 residents, including many elderly people, and was undergoing major renovations.
About 900 residents were evacuated, and 279 were reported missing as of midnight Wednesday.
Rescues were ongoing into Thursday morning.
Residents described harrowing moments.
Lawrence Lee, waiting for news of his trapped wife, said smoke-filled corridors forced her back into their apartment despite attempts to escape.
Hong Kong leader John Lee announced the government would focus on the disaster and pause campaigning for the Dec. 7 Legislative Council elections, though he did not confirm if the vote would be postponed.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the firefighter who died and sympathies to victims’ families, urging measures to minimize further casualties.
This fire is the deadliest Hong Kong has seen in decades, surpassing the 1996 Kowloon blaze that killed 41 people over 20 hours.
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