The death toll from a massive Hong Kong fire has risen to 55.

51 people were found dead at the scene and four others died in hospital after a blaze tore through multiple apartment blocks in the northern Tai Po district on Wednesday. It was the deadliest fire in Hong Kong in decades.

As many as 767 firefighters have been tackling the blaze, which broke out at one of the buildings in Wang Fuk Court complex at 2.51pm local time (6.51am GMT) before spreading to a cluster of blocks. On Thursday, thick smoke continued to pour out of the complex, home to around 4,600 people across nearly 2,000 flats in eight buildings.

Fires in four buildings have been extinguished, with the remaining three towers under control, authorities said, adding that the operation could continue into Thursday evening.

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