These are the terrifying scenes from the blaze that has killed more than 100 people on a housing estate in Hong Kong.
The fire that spread across the high-rise tower blocks on Wednesday, November 26, has so far claimed the lives of 128 people – with around 200 others still unaccounted for on Wang Fuk Court, where more than 4,600 residents lived.
The cause of the fire is unknown. But Hong Kong Security Chief Tang Ping-Keung suggested that its rapid spread could be attributed to the styrofoam on the outside of the windows of the flats.
These images show firefighters battling Wednesday’s deadly blaze in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong’s New Territories.
They reveal the ruins left behind on the housing estate – the bamboo scaffolding still intact, rope tied around it, and green netting ripped.
A fire crew can be seen in full protective gear and yellow helmets walking amongst the rubble with small patches of debris still alight.
In other photos, firefighters can be seen watching smoke engulf one of the tower blocks on the Wang Fuk Court estate.
Smoke pours out from the windows of a devastated building.
One firefighter can be seen checking his kit as others around him watch on at the horror.
This photo, taken on Wednesday and released by William Li shows a view of his room when he woke up to the fire outside his window.
The orange light from the blaze bursts through to his room.
Footage from the aftermath shows attempts to clear the rubble and remains of the buildings – debris scattered across the ground, on footpaths and roads.
The charred remnants of some of the apartments can be seen through the windows. Some trees still stand but without their leaves.
Ripped netting can be seen again clinging to the bamboo scaffolding.
What appears to be a clean-up crew wearing white suits walk amongst the ruins.
The housing estate was wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh for renovation work when the fire started and quickly spread on Wednesday.
Twelve firefighters were injured in the rescue efforts – with one is in a serious condition.
Tang said during a press conference that the fire alarms in the affected buildings were not working properly.
The fire is Hong Kong’s deadliest since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse blaze.
While firefighters contained the blaze on Friday and doused the still-smouldering complex, families were searching through photographs taken by emergency service workers for their loved ones.
On the second night after the blaze, dozens of evacuees set up mattresses in a nearby mall, many saying official evacuation centres should be saved for those in greater need.
People – from elderly residents to schoolchildren – wrapped themselves in duvets and huddled in tents outside a McDonald’s and convenience shops as volunteers handed out snacks and toiletries.
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