At least 128 people are now known to have died, with dozens still missing after a fire ripped through a high-rise Hong Kong residential estate on Wednesday, authorities say
At a news briefing, they add that 79 people were injured and 16 bodies remain inside the buildings after the city's worst blaze in decades
Fire alarms in all eight blocks in the northerly suburb of Tai Po were also found to be not working effectively, the fire service says
Experts tell the BBC bamboo scaffolding, along with other construction materials found at the buildings - which were undergoing renovation - might have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire
Several residents have previously reported that their fire alarms did not sound when the blaze broke out
Danny Vincent
BBC News, reporting from Hong Kong
Image source, Danny Vincent/BBCIt’s a surreal sight.
As soon as you come out of Tai Po Market station, scores of people are looking at a building complex in flames. You can see individual rooms lit up in flames.
One man watching said he fears it could burn long into the night.
Jack Lau
Global China Unit, reporting from Hong Kong
Image source, STR / Getty ImagesFlats in Wang Fuk Court average between 400 and 500 square feet. The estate, completed in 1983, consists of eight residential blocks with nearly 2,000 flats.
The estate is situated by the sea and adjacent to major highways, and houses around 4,600 residents as of the 2021 government census.
Hong Kong’s housing estates are typically characterised by their compact design, with small units densely arranged and buildings standing close together.
Families often live in modest apartments where every square foot is carefully utilised. This density means that incidents, such as fires, can quickly affect large numbers of residents.
In this case, the blaze was seemingly worsened by surrounding bamboo scaffolding. It is relatively rare for a fire to spread across multiple buildings within a single estate.
As we've been reporting, a firefighter is one of those confirmed dead in the blaze.
The fire service says they lost contact with the firefighter at around 15:30 local time, before they located him at 16:00.
He was taken to hospital, where he was later confirmed dead at 16:45.
The firefighter was 37 years old, and had been with the service for nine years.
At least one other firefighter is in hospital, the fire service says.
Image source, ReutersAt least 13 people are still trapped in the burning high rise buildings in Tai Po, former district councillor Herman Yiu Kwan-ho has told a local newspaper.
This includes eight elderly residents and two babies, he told the South Morning China Post. The BBC has not independently verified these numbers.
Herman Yiu Kwan-ho said about 14 cats were also trapped in the blaze.
Gemini Cheng
BBC Chinese, reporting from Hong Kong
Elderly residents, some using walking sticks or wheelchairs, have made their way to a nearby designated temporary shelter.
Coaches will later transfer them to nearby community halls which will remain open overnight to accommodate those displaced by the fire.
The Tai Po blaze has now been upgraded to level 5 - the most serious level.
In a written update, the Hong Kong government said it had increased the grade of the fire at 18:22 local time, having increased it to level 4 nearly three hours earlier.
The government has also provided an update on those killed and injured in the blaze. As of 6pm local time, it says nine people had been taken to two hospitals.
Of these, four people have died, three were in a critical condition, one was in a serious condition, and one was stable, it says.
Here are some of the latest photos from the scene in Hong Kong, where a number of high-rise blocks are on fire.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesThe police force in Hong Kong has set up a hotline for members of the public to ask about casualties as a result of the fire, the government says.
The hotline number is 1878 999.
Police are evacuating two blocks at a nearby estate.
At around 6pm local time police began knocking on doors at Kwong Fuk Estate, a nearby public housing complex, instructing residents of Kwong Lai House and Kwong Yau House to evacuate.
The fire has been categorised as a level 4 fire, the second-highest level of severity, with numbers ranging from 1 to 5.
The Fire Services Department received reports at 14:51 local time that the fire had broken out.
At 15:02 the seriousness was upgraded to level 3, and then again to level 4 at 15:34pm.
Image source, ReutersAs you can see from the images coming in to us, the high-rise complex is covered in bamboo scaffolding.
This is an alternative to steel scaffolding that is commonly used in the construction industry because it is lightweight, quick to put up, and very strong.
Hong Kong is famous for its use of the scaffolding, which is erected by tying bamboo poles together with nylon fasteners.
According to reporting in Hong Kong media in March, the government's development bureau has been trying to phase out the use of the scaffolding due to safety concerns.
Gemini Cheng
BBC Chinese, reporting from Hong Kong
Wang Fuk Court is a housing complex in the Tai Po area of the New Territories, currently undergoing renovation.
The estate consists of 1,984 flats and accommodates around 4,000 residents.
The recent blaze is expected to have a profound effect on both the community and the estate itself.
Image source, ReutersThe government of Hong Kong says it has opened temporary shelters in response to the fire at the Wang Fuk Court complex.
These shelters are at the Kwong Fuk Community Hall and the Tung Cheong Street Leisure Building, the update says.
It adds that a help desk has been set up at the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital for assistance and public enquiries, alongside a hotline on 2658 4040.
The Tai Po District Office is closely monitoring the situation and will open more shelters if needed, the government adds.
One of the confirmed deaths is a firefighter, the fire department tells the BBC.
This follows the news that at least four people have been killed in the tower block complex fire.
We're expecting an update from the authorities shortly, we'll bring you more on this when we get it.
The fire department has told Reuters the service does not yet know how many people may still be inside the complex.
The news agency also reports that, according to public broadcaster RTHK, which has cited police, several people remain trapped in the towers.
We will bring you updates on this as more information comes in.
Dramatic images show three towers engulfed by smoke and flames after a fire broke out at a residential estate in Hong Kong.
Where has it happened?
The fire began in Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong's northern Tai Po district on Wednesday. According to Reuters, it is a 2,000-unit residential complex made up of eight blocks.
Has anyone been injured or killed?
Seven people have been taken to two hospitals, the Hong Kong government says. Of these, it says four people have died, two are in a critical condition and one person is in a stable condition.
Reuters reports firefighters are among those who have been injured while trying to suppress the flames.
What else do we know?
The fire department first responded to reports of a fire at 14:51 local time (06:51 GMT). The fire was upgraded to a number 4 level at 3.34pm local time.
A section of the Tai Po highway has been closed and buses diverted.
What we don't know yet:
Image source, ReutersThe fire at Wang Fuk Court broke out at 2:51pm local time, according to a statement from the Hong Kong government.
At 5pm, seven people were taken to two hospitals for treatment, it says.
Of these, "four persons were certified dead, two persons are in critical condition and one person is in stable condition".
Pictures from the Wang Fuk Court housing estate, in Tai Po, Hong Kong show smoke billowing from the tower blocks.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
Image source, ReutersAt least four people are reported dead as a fire engulfs multiple high-rise residential buildings in Hong Kong.
Footage shows flames and smoke billowing from the towers, where several people are also believed to be trapped.
The fire is believed to have spread through bamboo scaffolding on the outside of the buildings, and emergency services are at the scene.
This is a breaking news story and we'll bring you more updates shortly.