Hong Kong High-Rise Fire Claims 44 Lives; 279 Missing

A massive fire erupted on Wednesday afternoon at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district, leading to at least 44 deaths and 279 individuals reported missing. The blaze, which began on external scaffolding of a 32-story tower, rapidly spread to seven of the complex's eight buildings, fueled by bamboo scaffolding and construction netting.

Firefighters faced intense heat and thick smoke as they battled the flames into Thursday. The Fire Services Department upgraded the incident to a level 5 alarm, the highest severity, deploying over 140 fire trucks and more than 60 ambulances to the scene.

Among the deceased is a 37-year-old firefighter with nine years of service. Authorities have arrested three men, aged between 52 and 68, from a construction company on suspicion of manslaughter due to gross negligence. Investigations revealed that flammable materials, including Styrofoam boards installed near elevator lobbies, may have contributed to the fire's rapid spread.

Approximately 900 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters. Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the victims' families and urged an all-out effort to control the fire and minimize further loss.