Dozens killed in Hong Kong tower block fire, with hundreds missing

At least 44 people have died in Hong Kong after a huge fire engulfed several residential apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po on Wednesday afternoon. Dozens more are in a critical condition. Another 279 people are missing, John Lee, the city's leader, has said.

By Thursday morning, the fires had not been fully extinguished at the complex, which is made up of eight 32-storey towers, containing about 2,000 flats, and were being renovated at the time. Around 4,800 people live there. The flames in four buildings are under control.

Firefighters and rescue crews stared searching the lower levels of some of the buildings on Thursday. Twenty-six rescue teams are on site.

Three men aged between 52 and 68 were arrested on Thursday morning on suspicion of manslaughter. Police did not provide any details about what the trio were accused of doing.

The fire appears to have spread in part because the buildings were sheathed in bamboo scaffolding, a traditional building material that the authorities have been phasing out for safety reasons. Officials said they will also look at materials used in the buildings' exterior they say may have contributed.

More than 900 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters as the rescue work continues.

China's leader, Xi Jinping, expressed his condolences for the victims, China's state broadcaster said late on Wednesday.

More than 128 fire engines and nearly 800 firefighters were sent to the scene. At least one firefighter was among the dead.

The Wang Fuk Court towers are among the tallest in Tai Po, which, like much of Hong Kong, is among the most densely populated areas in the world.