The toll of the tragedy in Hong Kong: 36 dead and 279 missing after the fire in the high-rise buildings

Another 29 people are hospitalized, and over 700 have been evacuated. The fire, described as the worst in Hong Kong in nearly 30 years, rapidly spread to seven of the eight blocks of the complex, affecting approximately 2,000 apartments. The fire spread through the bamboo scaffolding and safety nets, fueled by gusts of wind. The firefighters' intervention was hampered by extreme temperatures and the collapse of scaffolding elements. Authorities raised the alert level to 5, the highest, and China's President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the families of the victims. Evacuated residents were directed to temporary shelters, and their testimonies reflect the devastation caused by the fire.