A devastating fire sweeping through public housing apartments in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has claimed no fewer than 44 lives, with at least 279 residents still unaccounted for, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
The inferno, which broke out at Wang Fuk Court, has raged for more than 18 hours and has been designated a level-five blaze the highest classification for fire severity in Hong Kong. More than 800 firefighters have been deployed to battle the flames as rescue efforts continue.
Local media reported that a baby and an elderly woman were pulled from the burning structure during a late-night rescue operation.
In the latest development, police have arrested three construction company executives on suspicion of manslaughter. They are accused of using flammable materials including mesh and plastic sheets that may have accelerated the spread of the fire through the building.
Authorities say emergency responders are still combing through the building and surrounding areas in hopes of locating missing residents, as the death toll is expected to rise.
