At least 44 people were reportedly killed, and nearly 300 remain unaccounted for after Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in three decades tore through a cluster of high-rise residential towers in Tai Po on Wednesday. Police have detained three men on suspicion of manslaughter.

The fire erupted mid-afternoon on the bamboo scaffolding wrapped around a 32-storey tower undergoing renovation, rapidly engulfing seven buildings within an eight-tower complex. Fuelled by construction netting and strong winds, the flames climbed the structures and jumped between blocks, sending dense smoke over the New Territories suburb. Hundreds of residents, including many elderly, fled as burning debris rained down, while about 900 evacuees were moved to temporary shelters.

More than 140 fire tenders and 60 ambulances were deployed as crews struggled against extreme heat inside the buildings. Deputy Fire Services director Derek Armstrong Chan said falling scaffolding and soaring temperatures severely hampered rescue efforts. Authorities reported at least 45 people in hospital, some critically injured.

Chief Executive John Lee said a dedicated team from the police and Fire Services Department had begun investigating the cause of the fire, which was brought “under control” shortly after midnight. Chinese PresidentXi Jinpingoffered condolences for a firefighter who died in the operation and extended sympathies to the victims’ families.

The 1980s-era estate was undergoing large-scale renovation, and officials believe the blaze spread quickly due to strong winds channelling between the closely packed towers. The tragedy is reportedly Hong Kong’s worst since a 1996 level-five fire in Kowloon that killed 41 people.