At least 55 people have been killed in a major fire engulfing public housing apartments in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district – and more than 270 are still not accounted for.
Officials on Thursday morning said the fire was under control in four out of seven affected buildings, and they hoped to quell the remaining blazes by the evening.
Three construction company executives have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and “gross negligence”. Investigations are ongoing, but police say mesh and plastic sheets found on the buildings’ windows at the buildings may have facilitated the spread of the fire.
Hong Kong has suspended all campaigning ahead of the Legislative Council election on 7 December to prioritise relief efforts
As the fires subside, questions are now mounting as to how the blaze initially started, and who should be held accountable.
