Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu speaks at a press conference on November 27 on a massive fire that has so far caused at least 36 deaths, with 279 missing. Photo: Screenshot of live-streaming of the press conference

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu updated at a press conference held on Thursday early morning around 1:20 am that the massive fire has so far caused at least 36 deaths, with 279 missing. The No.5 alarm fire was gradually brought under control, he told the conference.

A No. 5 alarm fire occurred at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, according to local media reports. 

The Fire Services Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) deployed eight hose lines, seven aerial ladder trucks, 22 search teams, 128 fire engines, 57 ambulances and 767 fire and ambulance personnel for the rescue operation as local departments spared no effort in rescue work after the fire broke out at 2.51 pm on Wednesday.  

Fire services estimated that strong winds and burning debris from the bamboo scaffolding that enveloped the towers spread to other buildings, causing the fire to extend across seven blocks of the housing estate, Deputy Chief Fire Officer (Headquarters) Derek Armstrong Chan said at an on-site press conference on Wednesday.