A horrific tragedy unfolded in Hong Kong as a massive fire engulfed a high-rise building, leading to the deaths of at least 65 individuals, with several arrests made by the police.

According to Sky News, over 300 people are considered missing after the incident in Tai Po, a suburb with a population of around 300,000 located near the mainland China border. An additional 45 victims are hospitalized in critical condition, while approximately 900 individuals have taken shelter in temporary accommodations.

This residential complex, constructed in the 1980s, was undergoing renovations. Among the deceased was a firefighter involved in the firefighting efforts. Rescuers reported that by Thursday morning, they managed to extinguish the flames in all seven affected sections that were under repair.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which reportedly started on bamboo scaffolding and subsequently spread to seven of the eight buildings in the complex, likely fueled by strong winds. Bamboo scaffolding, although widely used in Hong Kong, is being phased out due to safety concerns.

The fire erupted on Wednesday afternoon on the external scaffolding of a 32-story building and quickly spread to neighboring structures. Rescue operations continued throughout the night.

Police suspect that the cause of the fire may have been «gross negligence» on the part of the construction company that used hazardous materials. Two directors and a consulting engineer have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, though the police have not disclosed the name of the company.

According to the 2021 government census, the complex housed 1984 apartments with approximately 4600 residents, but the exact number of people inside at the time of the fire remains unknown.