Families of the scores still missing after Hong Kong's worst blaze in decades are searching through hospitals as firefighting operations ended, with the death toll at least 94.
Flames had moved quickly through the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po district on Wednesday afternoon, spreading through the eight high rises and transforming the densely packed complex into an inferno.
After burning for over 40 hours, the blaze was "largely extinguished" by 10:18 am (2:18am Irish time), the fire services said, announcing the end of its operations.
Authorities are investigating what sparked the fire, including examining the bamboo scaffolding and plastic mesh wrapped around the complex as part of a major renovation.
At the charred apartment blocks, workers searched for survivors and pulled out bodies in black bags, with an AFP reporter counting four in one 15-minute period.
Vehicles unloaded multiple bodies at a mortuary in nearby Sha Tin, another reporter saw, with families expected to arrive in the afternoon for identification.
Many people remain missing, but the exact number has not been updated since early yesterday.
At a hospital in Sha Tin, a woman surnamed Wong was looking for her sister-in-law and her sister-in-law's twin sister.
"We still cannot find them. So we are going to different hospitals to ask if they have good news," the 38-year-old told AFP in tears.
"We were already waiting at the Prince of Wales Hospital on the first day but there was no news. We also came here yesterday," she added.
Authorities said more than 50 people are still hospitalised, with 12 in critical and 28 in serious condition.
The last contact anyone had with the twin sisters was on Wednesday, said Wong, less than an hour before the fire was reported.
"One building went up in flames and it spread to two more blocks in less than 15 minutes," a 77-year-old eyewitness surnamed Mui told AFP.
"It was very quick. It was burning red, I shudder to think about it."
Read more: Hong Kong fire puts spotlight on bamboo scaffolding risk
The fire service said earlier it would conduct search and rescue responses to 25 remaining requests for help and break into all flats on the estate by 9am (1am Irish time).
Small wisps of white smoke were still trailing out of the estate, with authorities saying in the morning the fire had been contained to four of the sprawling complex's almost 2,000 units.
The fire was Hong Kong's deadliest since 1948, when an explosion followed by a fire killed at least 135 people.
Deadly fires were once a regular issue in densely populated Hong Kong, especially in poorer neighbourhoods.
However, improved safety measures have made them far less common.
Hong Kong's anti-corruption body said it launched a probe into renovation work at the complex, hours after police said they had arrested three men on suspicion of negligently leaving foam packaging at the fire site.
Residents of the estate told AFP that they did not hear any fire alarms and had to go door to door to alert neighbours to the danger.
Hong Kong authorities will immediately inspect all housing estates undergoing major work following the disaster, city leader John Lee Ka-chiu said.
Of the 94 people confirmed dead as of 6:00 am local time (10pm Irish time last night), one was a 37-year-old firefighter and two were Indonesian people working as migrant domestic workers.
Hong Kong's government said it was setting up a HK$300 million (€33 million) fund to help victims of the fire.
City authorities said they had opened nine shelters alongside organising temporary accommodation and emergency funds for those who had lost their homes.
Activities around Hong Kong's legislative elections, set to take place on 7 December, have been suspended.
Some of the residents in adjacent blocks, who had been evacuated as a precaution, were allowed back into their homes yesterday afternoon.
A spontaneous community effort to help firefighters and those displaced had by today become a well-oiled machine.
At a nearby public square, separate supply stations for clothes, food and household supplies were set up as well as booths providing medical and psychological care.
So much was donated that organisers put out a call on social media saying there was no need for more.
An organiser of an impromptu aid station Stone Ngai, 38, said: "It's truly touching.
"The spirit of Hong Kong people is that when one is in trouble, everyone lends support.
"It shows that Hong Kong people are full of love."
