At least 44 people were killed and 279 remain unaccounted for after a massive fire swept through a high rise housing estate in Hong Kong, prompting an overnight rescue operation and urgent appeals for accountability from city authorities.Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee confirmed the rising toll early Thursday (local time), saying search teams were still tracing missing residents as smoke continued to billow from the charred towers.
Earlier accounts from officials described how the fire services department initially handled 28 casualties, with nine declared dead at the scene. Several more critically injured residents later died in hospital as flames continued to rage through the densely packed residential towers. Two residents remain in critical condition with burn injuries, while others including firefighters also required medical attention.Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences and urged the city to contain the disaster swiftly. State media reported that Xi called on authorities to “make every effort” to put out the fire and minimise further loss of life. “Xi Jinping expressed condolences for those who died in the major fire at a residential estate in Tai Po District, New Territories, Hong Kong, including the firefighter who died in the line of duty,” CCTV said.The Fire Services Department said it received the first emergency call at 2:51 pm local time and escalated the blaze to a No 4 alarm at 3:34 pm, one level below the highest emergency classification. Dozens of engines, ambulances and rescue teams were deployed as smoke poured from the towers, which house around 2,000 apartments and were undergoing renovation work. Witnesses described seeing residents gathered on overhead walkways as flames climbed rapidly up buildings covered in bamboo scaffolding.The Tai Po district, home to nearly 300,000 people, is among Hong Kong’s most tightly packed urban zones. Roads around the area remain closed, with bus routes diverted as firefighters continue sweeping each floor to locate survivors.More details are awaited as authorities verify the number of missing residents and assess structural safety before entering deeper sections of the complex.
