Hundreds feared dead as huge fire rips through Hong Kong apartment blocks

"Investigators will be looking into factors including whether material on the exterior walls of high-rise buildings met fire resistance standards, as the rapid spread of the fire was unusual, authorities said. Officials earlier said the fire started on the external scaffolding of one of the buildings, a 32-storey tower, and later spread to inside the building and then to nearby structures, probably aided by windy conditions."

""Police and the Fire Services Department have already set up a dedicated investigation team to investigate" the fire and its cause, Hong Kong's chief executive John Lee said. The probe includes whether criminal elements are involved. It was reported later that three men had been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the firefighter who died and extended sympathies to the families of the victims, according to state broadcaster CCTV. He also urged efforts to minimise casualties and losses."

A blaze swept across seven of eight buildings in a Tai Po housing complex, killing at least 40 people and leaving another 279 missing. Hundreds of residents were evacuated from almost 2,000 apartments that house about 4,800 people, including many elderly. The complex, built in the 1980s, was undergoing major renovation with bamboo scaffolding and construction netting around exteriors. Officials said the fire began on external scaffolding of a 32-storey tower, then spread inside and to nearby structures, probably aided by wind. Investigators will examine exterior wall materials and whether criminal elements were involved; three men were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Fire crews faced high temperatures and thick smoke, and at least 29 people remained hospitalised. Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed condolences and urged efforts to minimise casualties and losses.

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