Dozens of people have been confirmed dead after a massive two-day fire swept through several residential tower blocks in Hong Kong, leaving hundreds more unaccounted for and many in critical condition.
The blaze was first reported at 2.52 pm local time (0652 GMT) on Wednesday at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, in the New Territories.
Officials said the fire began on external scaffolding at Wang Cheong House before spreading rapidly to seven of the eight high-rise buildings in the densely populated estate.
Thousands of residents, including many elderly people, live in the nearly 2,000 flats within the complex.
Many were unaware of the danger at first, as windows were shut and fire alarms reportedly went unheard.
More than 200 fire trucks and over 100 ambulances were deployed as crews battled through Wednesday night.
Firefighters struggled to access the upper floors of the 31-storey blocks, where many residents were believed to be trapped. A 37-year-old firefighter is among the dead.
Authorities said falling debris and extreme heat hampered rescue efforts.
The estate had been undergoing maintenance, and bamboo scaffolding and construction netting helped the flames spread quickly.
Hong Kong remains one of the few places globally still using bamboo extensively in construction, though the government has begun phasing it out following multiple worker fatalities in recent years.
From mainland China, President Xi Jinping called on Hong Kong authorities to “make every effort” to extinguish the fire and expressed sympathies to affected families.
Police said early investigations suggest the involvement of “grossly negligent” construction practices, including the use of protective mesh and plastic sheeting that may not have met fire safety standards.
One building not directly affected by the blaze was found to have windows sealed with foam material installed by a contractor.
By Thursday morning, some apartments continued to burn, though witnesses reported that the fire had weakened.
Hong Kong’s chief executive, John Lee, said more than 900 residents had taken refuge in temporary shelters and announced a HK$300m (£29.2m) relief fund.
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