Hong Kong is now confronting painful questions after a catastrophic fire tore through multiple residential towers in Tai Po, killing at least 36 people and leaving 279 missing, at the time of writing.
The blaze erupted last 26 November at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate and spread rapidly across several 32-storey blocks under renovation.
A firefighter is among the dead. Another 29 people remain in hospital, seven in critical condition, Chief Executive John Lee said early on 27 November at Prince of Wales Hospital.
President Xi Jinping issued condolences and urged “all-out efforts” to minimise casualties and losses, according to CCTV.
The estate had been undergoing renovation since July and was fully wrapped in green construction mesh and bamboo scaffolding at the time of the fire.
Officials said the speed of the blaze was "unusual" and confirmed that styrofoam was found inside the renovation structure.
Firefighters took almost ten hours to bring three of the seven burning towers under control. Four buildings continued burning into early morning as crews struggled to reach upper floors due to intense heat.
Reuters reported that the bamboo scaffolding and construction mesh fanned the flames, though Hong Kong authorities have not confirmed this assessment.
The government began phasing out bamboo scaffolding earlier this year, requiring 50 percent of public projects to switch to metal alternatives.
Hong Kong remains one of the few places globally where bamboo is widely used in high-rise construction.
Some residents escaped with only minutes to act.
More than 900 displaced residents are sheltering in community halls as rescue teams continue to search for survivors.