Contained in the burning Hong Kong tower blocks as death toll rises to 128 with 200 still missing | News World

These are the terrifying scenes from the blaze that has killed greater than 100 people on a housing estate in Hong Kong.

The hearth that spread across the high-rise tower blocks on Wednesday, November 26, has thus far claimed the lives of 128 people – with around 200 others still unaccounted for on Wang Fuk Court, where greater than 4,600 residents lived.

The explanation for the hearth is unknown. But Hong Kong Security Chief Tang Ping-Keung suggested that its rapid spread might be attributed to the styrofoam on the surface of the windows of the flats.

These images show firefighters battling Wednesday’s deadly blaze within the Tai Po district of Hong Kong’s Latest 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 hearth crew may be seen in full protective gear and yellow helmets walking amongst the rubble with small patches of debris still alight.

In other photos, firefighters may be seen watching smoke engulf one in every of the tower blocks on the Wang Fuk Court estate.

Smoke pours out from the windows of a devastated constructing.

One firefighter may be seen checking his kit as others around him watch on on the horror.

This photo, taken on Wednesday and released by William Li shows a view of his room when he woke as much as the hearth 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 stays of the buildings – debris scattered across the bottom, on footpaths and roads.

The charred remnants of a number of the apartments may be seen through the windows. Some trees still stand but without their leaves.

Ripped netting may 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 hearth began and quickly spread on Wednesday.

Twelve firefighters were injured within the rescue efforts – with one is in a serious condition.

Tang said during a press conference that the hearth alarms within the affected buildings weren’t working properly.

The hearth 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 looking through photographs taken by emergency service staff for his or her family members.

On the second night after the blaze, dozens of evacuees arrange mattresses in a close-by mall, many saying official evacuation centres needs to 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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