00:00A devastating high-rise fire in Hong Kong has claimed at least 44 lives, with hundreds more
00:24still unaccounted for, marking the city's deadliest blaze in decades.
00:29The Inferno, which broke out Wednesday afternoon in the sprawling Wang Phuk Court residential
00:35complex in Taipo, continued to smolder into Thursday as firefighters struggled to reach
00:40trapped residents.
00:43The fire began on bamboo scaffolding surrounding several of the estate's tower blocks, which
00:48were undergoing maintenance.
00:50Within minutes, flames raced up the exterior of the buildings, fueled by strong winds and
00:55burning debris.
00:57Witnesses described the terrifying scene — loud cracking sounds, thick smoke filling the air,
01:02and flames licking up dozens of stories, lighting the night sky with an ominous orange glow.
01:09Longtime residents said the tragedy unfolded with little warning.
01:13Many windows had been sealed during the renovation, making it difficult for people to notice the
01:17danger.
01:18As panic spread, more than 900 residents fled to temporary shelters, with families desperately
01:24searching for loved ones.
01:26A police officer at one shelter said the number of missing people remained unclear because worried
01:31relatives were still arriving to report those who had not made contact.
01:35Fire crews battled not only the towering flames, but deadly conditions inside the buildings.
01:41Police later arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter, though authorities have not yet
01:46disclosed their alleged connection to the blaze.
01:50Investigators are also examining whether building materials or renovation practices caused the
01:54fire to spread unusually fast.
01:56The tragedy has shaken Hong Kong.
01:59President Xi Jinping offered condolences to the victims and urged authorities to spare no
02:03effort in extinguishing the fire and minimizing further loss.
02:07Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, said he was deeply saddened and that government departments were fully
02:13mobilized to help residents.
02:15Meanwhile, those living in nearby blocks were evacuated as a precaution and sections of a
02:20major highway were closed, while firefighters continued their dangerous work.
02:25Once frequent in Hong Kong's dense urban neighborhoods, deadly fires have become rare in recent decades
02:31thanks to improved safety standards.
02:33This blaze, however, has brought haunting reminders of the past and raised urgent questions about
02:38building safety in one of the world's most vertical cities.
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