Deadly Fire Sweeps Hong Kong Housing Complex; Dozens Dead, Hundreds Missing

A fire tore through several high-rise towers at a housing complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, killing dozens of people, with hundreds still unaccounted for, NBC News and Al Jazeera reported.

NBC News, citing Reuters, reported that at least 44 people had died by early Thursday local time, and that Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said 279 were unaccounted for and 29 hospitalized, seven of them critically. By midday Thursday, authorities put the toll at least 55, with 268 unaccounted for, according to Al Jazeera (later source, updated Nov. 27). Fire officials said 51 died at the scene and four in hospital, Al Jazeera said.

The fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a complex of almost 2,000 apartments across eight buildings, NBC News and Al Jazeera reported. It was upgraded to the city’s highest-level alarm at 6 p.m. local time. Al Jazeera described it as Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in peacetime, noting that a 1962 blaze in Sham Shui Po killed 44. It said the complex’s 31-story towers were burning into the night and firefighters had difficulty reaching two of the buildings.

Bamboo scaffolding had been erected outside several towers undergoing renovation, local media reported, according to NBC News. Security Secretary Chris Tang said the buildings had “protective netting” on exterior walls, NBC News said. Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of fire services, told reporters that falling debris and scaffolding endangered firefighters trying to answer residents’ pleas for help, and that the heat inside remained very high, Al Jazeera reported. Local media said some residents were believed to be trapped, per Al Jazeera.

Police arrested three people on suspicion of manslaughter, NBC News and Al Jazeera reported, though authorities did not say what they were alleged to have done.

Mr. Lee said the city would “provide all possible resources” and offered condolences to the families. Housing Secretary Winnie Ho said 1,400 apartments would be made available for displaced residents, NBC News reported.

NBC News reported that fires in four of the residential buildings were under control by early Thursday local time, and Mr. Lee said the fire service had “sufficient manpower and capability” to put it out. Al Jazeera’s reporter at the scene said later on Thursday that the complex was still giving off thick black smoke.