Everything we know about the Hong Kong fire compared to Grenfell as 55 confirmed dead
At least 55 people have died following as huge fire that engulfed a high-rise apartment complex in Hong Kong.
The devastating blaze has torn through seven of eight public housing tower blocks in the Tai Po district, which are home to around 4,600 residents.
As many as 300 people are still believed to be unaccounted for, with around 900 displaced residents currently in shelters. Meanwhile, 45 people remain in hospital in a critical condition.
The fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court at 2.51pm local time on 26 November and as of this morning (27 November), fire crews have confirmed the fires have been brought under control in four of the blocks, with flames still blazing in at least two of the 32-storey buildings.
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Officials have classified the fire as a level five, the highest in severity, with the blaze officially becoming Hong Kong's deadliest in 63 years.
What caused the Hong Kong fire
It's still not known exactly how the fire started, however police have suggested it may have been spread through bamboo scaffolding and construction mesh sheets on one of the buildings, which are not fireproof. It is believed that windy weather conditions encouraged the fire to spread among the buildings.
Authorities have also reported finding styrofoam on the building's windows, which is believed to have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.
A police spokesperson confirmed they were investigating the alleged actions or failure to act, of the construction company's top officials.
Superintendent Eileen Chung said, as per Sky News: "We have reason to believe that those in charge at the company were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties."
Three people who work for the construction firm have now been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, including two directors and one engineering consultant.
Comparisons to Grenfell
Since news of the devastation broke, people have been drawing comparisons to the Grenfell Tower fire, which claimed the lives of 72 people in 2017.
The London inferno led to calls for strict oversight of construction materials in densely populated cities, and many buildings up and down the country were forced to replace cladding that was found to not meet health and safety regulations due to its flammable material.
These calls also included the use of fire resistant scaffolding systems, and in the case of the Hong Kong fire, authorities have already highlighted the use of highly flammable bamboo scaffolding that was in place as renovations were taking place in one of the buildings.
Topics: World News, Grenfell Tower
Emma Rosemurgey