On the 26th, Hong Fuk Court in Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, experienced the city's most severe fire in decades. As of the 28th, authorities have reported that the death toll has risen to 94.
Authorities announced in the early morning of the 28th that after more than 24 hours of burning in eight buildings, the fire had been contained to just four of the nearly 2,000 residential units.
The death toll may yet rise. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu stated early on the 27th that 279 people remain unaccounted for. The exact figure has not been updated since.
As of 6 a.m. on the 28th, among the 94 confirmed dead, one was a 37-year-old firefighter and two were Indonesian domestic workers.
A government spokesperson stated that the fire has resulted in at least 76 injuries, including 11 firefighters.
According to an AFP reporter at the scene on the 28th, the flames at Hong Fuk Court had significantly subsided, but sparks and thick smoke could still occasionally be seen emerging from the buildings. Firefighters continued dousing the buildings with water to reduce their temperature and prevent residual embers from reigniting.
Several residents of Hong Fuk Court told AFP that they did not hear any alarms sounding and had to knock on doors to alert their neighbors to evacuate.
This is the most severe fire in Hong Kong since 1948.