At least 44 dead, 45 injured in Hong Kong residential fire, rescue work continues

A fire broke out at a residential building in the Tai Po area of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday afternoon, leaving 44 people dead and 45 others injured by early Thursday morning. Three men were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, according to the Hong Kong Police Force.

Chief Executive of HKSAR John Lee said in the small hours of Thursday that a fire in seven buildings in Wang Fuk Court, a residential area in Tai Po of the HKSAR, has been gradually brought under control after firefighters' painstaking efforts. He stressed that the HKSAR government will mobilize all resources to fully support rescue operations. He has instructed departments and units to carry out comprehensive work, including extinguishing the fire, rescuing trapped residents, treating the injured, providing assistance and emotional support to families, and conducting a full investigation into the accident.