The death toll from a catastrophic fire at a Hong Kong housing estate has risen to 55, with hundreds still unaccounted for. This incident marks the worst fire in the city in over 60 years. The inferno erupted on Wednesday afternoon at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, engulfing seven of the eight residential towers. Authorities reported that 51 victims were found at the scene, while four others succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Among the deceased is a firefighter who lost contact with his colleagues during the rescue efforts. As of Thursday morning, 68 individuals were injured, with 16 in critical condition and 25 listed as serious. The search for the missing continues, with 279 people still unaccounted for. Firefighters are working tirelessly to locate survivors amidst the charred remains of the complex, which housed approximately 4,800 residents. The blaze was exacerbated by strong winds and flammable materials used during ongoing renovations. Police have arrested three men, including two construction company directors and an engineering consultant, on suspicion of manslaughter. Investigators believe that the negligence of those responsible for the renovation work allowed the fire to spread uncontrollably. Superintendent Eileen Chung stated, "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." Firefighters faced significant challenges as they battled the flames, with debris falling from the buildings and high temperatures making it difficult to conduct rescue operations. Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of fire service operations, noted, "The temperature inside the buildings concerned is very high. It’s difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations." The fire broke out at 2.51pm and quickly escalated to a No. 5 alarm, the highest level of severity in Hong Kong. The complex, built in the 1980s, had been undergoing renovations since July last year. Residents reported that fire alarms did not sound, prompting many to flee without warning. Some were left waiting for news of loved ones, while others sought refuge in temporary shelters. Chief Executive John Lee expressed his condolences to the victims' families and announced that inspections of all public housing estates undergoing renovations would be conducted. Chinese President Xi Jinping also extended his sympathies to the victims and their families, urging efforts to minimise casualties. As the city grapples with this tragedy, the community has come together to support those affected, with volunteers providing aid to displaced residents. The fire has reignited concerns over building safety standards in Hong Kong, where deadly fires have become less common in recent decades due to improved regulations.