…but blaze ‘under control’
It has been more than 24 hours since a major fire engulfed seven apartment blocks in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district.
The Hong Kong fire department says 75 people have been killed and 76 others injured. At least another 270 people are still missing; 11 firefighters have also been injured.
As night falls, Hong Kong’s leader says the Wang Fuk Court fire is now “basically under control”, as emergency teams work to extinguish the last of the flames.
Hundreds have been evacuated to temporary shelters as volunteers continue to bring supplies to those displaced.
Investigators are looking into how the residential complex was being renovated. Police say the materials on the outside of the building – which included mesh and plastic sheets – were not fireproof.
Three construction company executives have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and “gross negligence”, according to authorities.
BBC Verify has authenticated videos posted on social media which shows the first firefighters arriving on the scene at 14:57 local time (06:57 GMT) as flames spread to other floors – they’ve also put together a timeline and looked at new satellite imagery.
An assistance fund is being set up with each household being given HK$10,000 (£972, US$1300), Hong Kong chief executive John Lee said in an update.
As the latest update puts the death toll at 75 people, many residents are settling in for their second night without a home.
The still-smouldering outline of the high-rise complex looms over the area, donations of food, clothing and money continue to pour in, while investigations into the cause of the blaze continue.
BBC
