(MENAFN) A massive fire tore through a large residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, leaving at least 44 people dead and hundreds still unaccounted for. Reports indicated that the number of casualties continued to rise throughout the day.

The blaze erupted around midday in the eight-building complex—home to more than 1,900 apartments—and quickly intensified due to bamboo scaffolding that had been set up for renovation work on the exterior. According to the local fire department, 44 victims, including a firefighter, have been confirmed dead so far.

Hospitals received numerous injured residents, with 45 people remaining in critical condition. The fire swept across seven of the buildings, which are believed to house roughly 4,000 occupants. While crews have managed to bring three of the buildings under control, flames are still burning in the remaining four.

Authorities reported that 279 residents are still missing as 26 fire teams continue their operations at the scene. Police have arrested three individuals—two managers and a consulting engineer from the company overseeing the renovation—on suspicion of “manslaughter.”

Officials say the renovation’s bamboo scaffolding, combined with foam plastic window coverings, played a major role in the unusually rapid spread of the fire. Senior Superintendent Eileen Chung Lai-yee stated, “We have reason to believe that the individuals responsible at the company were grossly negligent, which caused the fire to spread quickly and led to many fatalities."

Hong Kong Security Secretary Chris Tang said early findings suggest that the fire’s speed was abnormal, pointing primarily to the foam insulation material used in the renovation process.

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