Hong Kong high-rise blaze death toll now at 44
The death toll from a massive fire in a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong has risen to 44, with 45 people in critical condition and around 280 unaccounted for, local authorities said Thursday.
Three men have reportedly been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the fire that broke out in the northern Tai Po district on Wednesday afternoon. The blaze, which firefighters are still battling, rapidly enveloped seven of the eight towers in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex.
The complex, standing more than 30 stories tall that local media say comprises around 2,000 apartments and houses for around 4,000 people, was covered in bamboo scaffolding and green protective mesh for an ongoing refurbishment project.
Bamboo scaffolding
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, but Hong Kong’s fire department authorities believe the mesh and bamboo scaffolding may have helped the fire to spread amid strong winds.
Bamboo scaffolding is common in Hong Kong and seen as iconic of the city’s development. However, after a small fire earlier this year, officials said they would begin phasing it out for safety reasons.
A firefighter was among the dead, according to the local fire services department.
