The death toll from a massive fire that ripped through multiple high-rise residential blocks in Hong Kong’s northern Tai Po district has risen to 36, the city’s leader John Lee said early on Thursday.

At least 279 people were still unaccounted for, he added, with several dozen hospitalised.

Firefighters battled the orange flames into the night as thick black smoke billowed from the 32-storey towers, which were sheathed in bamboo scaffolding – whose use the government began phasing out in March for safety reasons – and green construction mesh.

The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.

Fire authorities said they were grappling to get to the towers’ upper floors due to the intense heat, and containing the blaze was getting tougher after night fell.

The Wang Fuk Court housing complex, where the fire started, has 2 000 residential apartments comprising eight blocks.

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