HONG KONG —At least 146 people have died in a massive fire that tore through multiple high-rise residential blocks in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, authorities said Sunday, in the city’s deadliest blaze in more than 70 years.

Police warned the number of fatalities could rise further, with 79 injured and 150 residents still unaccounted for.

The fire erupted on Wednesday across the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, engulfing seven of its eight tower blocks within minutes.

Thousands gathered on Sunday to mourn the victims, with queues stretching up to 2km as residents laid flowers and handwritten messages at the scene.

Officials say the blaze spread rapidly due to flammable materials—including plastic netting and foam panels—installed on exterior scaffolding during ongoing renovation works.

Bamboo scaffolding, commonly used in Hong Kong, also helped carry flames upward and between towers.

Fire alarms in all eight blocks were found to be malfunctioning.

More than 2,000 firefighters battled the inferno for over 40 hours before bringing it under control early Friday.

The fire reached peak temperatures of 500°C (932°F). One firefighter, 37-year-old Ho Wai-ho, was among the dead.

Police have arrested 11 people so far, including renovation contractors, engineering directors, and scaffolding subcontractors, on corruption and manslaughter charges.

Investigators say gross negligence likely contributed to how quickly the fire spread. An additional man, 24, was detained on suspicion of sedition while petitioning for an independent inquiry.

Authorities have suspended construction works at 30 private sites as the investigation continues. Police say it could take weeks to assess all evidence after completing searches of four tower blocks.

Foreign consulates confirmed casualties among expatriates, including at least seven Indonesians and one Filipino.

Hong Kong has declared a three-day mourning period, with flags flown at half-mast and officials observing a minute of silence. Wang Fuk Court, built in 1983, houses nearly 4,600 residents, almost 40% of whom are aged 65 or older.

The tragedy is Hong Kong’s worst since a fire in 1948 killed 176 people, and the second deadliest on record after the 1918 Happy Valley Racecourse blaze that claimed over 600 lives. — Agencies