Over 80 killed, 280 missing after deadliest fire in Hong Kong in seven decades; three arrested — All you need to know

At least 83 people were killed and around 280 are still missing after the deadliest fire at a building in Hong Kong in over seven decades, as toll continues to rise on Thursday. So far, three people from a construction firm have been arrested.

Police have said that the inferno could have been caused by the use of unsafe materials by a ‘grossly negligent’ construction firm.

The fire was believed to have started in bamboo scaffolding and construction netting, before it spread to other buildings in the complex.

Nearly 24 hours after the blaze started, rescuers also found a survivor, a man, from a stairway on the 16th floor of the building.

Where did the fire take place?

The fire broke out in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in the northern district of Tai Po. It is one of many high-rise housing complexes in Hong Kong. The eight blocks of the tightly packed complex, which houses over 4,600 people, have 2,000 apartments.

According to property agency websites, the complex, which has been occupied since 1983, is under the government's subsidised home ownership scheme, reported Reuters.

What caused the fire?

According to police, they believe that a construction company's responsible parties which were carrying out maintenance work were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably.

"We have reason to believe that the company’s responsible parties were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties," said Eileen Chung, a Hong Kong police superintendent.

Police said that the buildings were covered with protective mesh sheets and plastic that may not meet fire standards.

According to a Reuters report, police also discovered some windows on one unaffected building were sealed with a foam material, installed by a construction company carrying out maintenance work.

Who has been arrested?

Three men from the construction company — two directors and one engineering consultant — have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over the fire.

Rescue a priority

Hong Kong leader John Lee said that some 279 people were uncontactable and 900 were in eight shelters.

Lee stated that the priority is to extinguish the fire and rescue the residents who are trapped.

“The second is to support the injured. The third is to support and recover. Then, we'll launch a thorough investigation,” he added.

Govt to set up fund

John Lee said the government would set up a HK$300 million ($38.6 million) fund to help residents.

The city's development bureau has also discussed gradually replacing bamboo scaffolding as a safety measure.

Xi Jinping urges ‘all-out effort’

China's President Xi Jinping urged an "all-out effort" to extinguish the fire and minimise casualties and losses, state broadcaster CCTV said.

All burned, nothing left

A 51-year-old resident surnamed Wan told Reuters that they bought in (apartment) this building more than 20 years ago and now nothing is left.

“All of our belongings were in this building, and now that it has all burned like this, what’s left?”

Relief pour in

Meanwhile, Xiaomi, Xpeng and Geely, charity foundation of Alibaba's founder Jack Ma, among other Chinese companies and groups, have announced donations to the fire victims.