By Mark Tanos
Authorities made arrests in connection with a fire that swept through a high-rise residential complex Wednesday in Hong Kong, killing at least 40 people and leaving 279 missing.
The blaze spread to seven of eight towers at Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district, Reuters reported, citing fire officials at a press conference. Police apprehended three men in connection with the blaze on suspicion manslaughter, according to the outlet. Authorities said they would provide details later.
Bamboo scaffolding and green construction netting fueled the rapid spread of flames across the 32-story buildings. The complex featured approximately 2,000 apartments and more than 4,600 residents, Reuters reported. Roughly 900 people required shelter and 45 were in critical condition. (RELATED: Evacuations Forced After Pack Fire Burns Thousands Of Acres In Mono County, California)
Ho Wai-ho, a 37-year-old firefighter with nine years on the force, died battling the No. 5 alarm fire, a Government of Hong Kong press release said. He collapsed on-site and was pronounced dead at a hospital at 4:41 p.m. local time.
“Mr Ho’s performance was valiant. I am profoundly grieved at the loss of this dedicated and gallant fireman,” Fire Chief Andy Yeung said.
Authorities sent 888 firefighters to the scene, the fire chief said. However, fire crews struggled to reach higher floors because of the intense heat. Yeung said he thought the agency could handle the blaze and emphasized the small space they had to work with.
“You can imagine with the small area, there’re a lot of firefighters on each floor. We’ve deployed all the firefighters the buildings can hold,” he said.
A massive blaze engulfed several residential towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, leaving more than a dozen dead as emergency crews struggled to rescue unknown numbers of trapped residents amid intense heat and spreading flames https://t.co/HYxGqKfMyz pic.twitter.com/BVRjrooGqL
Fire crews discovered styrofoam boards blocking windows in multiple buildings, Yeung said. The fire chief called the material “highly flammable” and said finding it was unusual, noting that his department reported the discovery to police.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said authorities suspended election campaigning and halted government promotion activities.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an “all-out effort” to contain the disaster, according to state broadcasting service CCTV. Hong Kong has elections set for Dec. 7, according to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
Harry Cheung, 66, has lived in the complex for more than 40 years. He heard “a very loud noise” at approximately 2:45 p.m. and watched fire erupt in a nearby block.
“I don’t even know how I feel right now. Just taking things one step at a time,” Cheung said. “Now I’m just thinking about where I’m going to sleep tonight because I probably won’t be able to go back home.”
The government started phasing out bamboo scaffolding and green mesh in March over safety concerns. The fire is Hong Kong’s deadliest since 1996.
