Hong Kong firefighters on Thursday extinguished a massive fire in an apartment complex that killed at least 55 people and injured nearly 300, Reuters reported.
Hundreds of firefighters battled the fire, which continued to burn for more than 24 hours after it was first reported on Wednesday afternoon. According to the New York Times, Hong Kong fire authorities said the fires were extinguished in four of the buildings in the complex and the other three were under control.
Hundreds of people are missing, injured or dead, and thousands more are left homeless, and determining compensation for victims could become a long-term legal issue. Oscar Seikaly, CEO of NSI Insurance Group, a Miami-based insurance broker and risk management company, said everyone involved in a construction project could face legal claims. This includes manufacturers and distributors of internet and other building materials, general construction contractors and subcontractors, and managers of condominium towers.
Hong Kong fire authorities said the fire had been extinguished in four of the buildings in the complex, the NYT reported, adding that the other three buildings were under control. More than 1,200 firefighters are on the scene, but dangerously high temperatures and the collapse of scaffolding inside the tower are making it difficult to rescue trapped residents.