Firefighters in Hong Kong are entering their second day of battling a catastrophic blaze that has engulfed the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, New Territories. The deadly fire, which broke out on Wednesday afternoon, has claimed 55 lives, including one firefighter, while approximately 280 individuals remain unaccounted for. Authorities have arrested three executives from Prestige Construction & Engineering Company on manslaughter charges, suspecting gross negligence contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, exacerbated by non-compliant materials. Investigations reveal highly flammable polystyrene foam was found attached to windows in unaffected buildings. The fire spread swiftly from scaffolding outside a 32-storey structure, impacting seven out of eight towers in the complex, which houses around 4,800 residents. In response, Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, has ordered immediate safety inspections of all housing estates undergoing renovations, while Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed condolences and urged measures to minimize future casualties. This incident marks Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since the 1996 Kowloon blaze, which resulted in 41 fatalities.
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