Three arrested in Hong Kong building fire that killed 44, over 300 missing
PTC News Desk: At least 44 people have died and nearly 300 are missing after Hong Kong’s worst fire in 30 years tore through high-rise apartment buildings covered in flammable bamboo scaffolding. The blaze broke out on Wednesday in the Tai Po area.
According to local media, police have arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the incident. The fire started in the afternoon at the bamboo scaffolding on the outside of a 32-storey building under renovation and quickly spread to seven other towers within the same eight-building complex. Strong winds and construction netting helped the flames move rapidly from one building to another, filling the area with heavy smoke. Hundreds of residents, including many elderly people, had to escape as burning debris fell from above. Around 900 people were taken to emergency shelters while firefighters used more than 140 fire engines and 60 ambulances to control the blaze.
Hong Kong’s chief executive, John Lee, said an investigation has begun while rescue teams continue searching for the missing. He said the fire was being brought under control shortly after midnight.
Officials said 45 people are still in hospital, with some in critical condition. Fire officials said extremely high temperatures inside the buildings made rescue work very difficult. Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of Fire Service operations, said falling scaffolding and intense heat were preventing firefighters from entering and moving through the buildings.
- With inputs from agencies
