A fire that spread to several high-rise buildings in a residential complex in Hong Kong has killed 36 people and left 279 missing, the territory's leader, John Lee, said today.
Li added that 29 people remained in hospital and that the large fire was currently under control.
Hundreds of residents were evacuated after a fire spread to seven high-rise apartment buildings in a housing complex in Tai Po District, New Territories.
Firefighters deployed 128 fire engines and 57 ambulances to the scene.
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the family of a firefighter who died fighting the fire, as well as sympathies with the families of the victims, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
District officials in Tai Po have opened temporary shelters for people left homeless by the fire.
Tai Po is a suburban area in the New Territories, in the northern part of Hong Kong and close to the border with the city of Shenzhen in mainland China.
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