At least 65 individuals have lost their lives in a massive fire in Hong Kong, prompting several arrests by the police.

According to Sky News, nearly 300 people are reported missing following the blaze in Tai Po, a suburb with a population of about 300,000 located near the mainland China border. Another 45 people are hospitalized in critical condition, while roughly 900 are taking refuge in shelters.

The complex, built in the 1980s, had been undergoing renovations for the past year. Among the deceased was a firefighter who was tackling the blaze. Rescue teams reported that by Thursday morning, they had extinguished the flames in all seven affected blocks.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it is believed to have started in bamboo scaffolding and construction nets, spreading to seven of the eight buildings in the complex, likely due to strong winds. Bamboo scaffolding is widely used in Hong Kong, but its safety has come into question.

The fire erupted Wednesday afternoon on the exterior scaffolding of a 32-story building. The flames quickly spread to seven of the eight tower blocks, likely exacerbated by gusty winds. Rescue operations continued throughout the night.

The police suspect that the cause of the fire may have been «gross negligence» by the construction firm using hazardous materials. Three individuals — two directors and a consulting engineer — have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, although the police have not disclosed the company’s name.

According to the 2021 government census, the complex contained 1,984 apartments housing approximately 4,600 residents. However, it is currently unknown how many people were inside the building at the time of the fire.