HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's deadliest fire in years blazed through high-rise apartment buildings into the night Wednesday as the city's leader confirmed at least 44 people, including a firefighter, had died and another 279 people were reported missing.

Several local media outlets reported that police had arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with fire which began Wednesday afternoon in a housing complex in Tai Po district, a suburb in the New Territories. By Thursday morning local time, the fire was yet to be put out and rescues continued.

Hundreds of residents were evacuated. At least 29 others remained hospitalized. Bright flames and smoke shot out of windows as night fell.

Investigators will be looking into factors including whether material on the exterior walls

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