Hong Kong: A huge fire that ripped through a Hong Kong housing estate has killed at least 44 people, and city leader John Lee stated that at least 279 people remain unaccounted for.

In a press briefing, Lee said that several people had been admitted to the hospital and were in critical condition after the fire that started on Wednesday afternoon.

Some people were reportedly found dead at the scene, while others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. Around 700 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters as emergency crews battled the blaze

The fire erupted in the Tai Po district of the New Territories and quickly spread along bamboo scaffolding and construction netting surrounding the exterior of the complex.

Dramatic video from the scene showed at least five adjacent towers engulfed in flames, with smoke and fire pouring from numerous apartment windows as darkness fell.

Lo Hiu-fung, a member of the Tai Po District Council, told local broadcaster TVB that many of those trapped inside were believed to be elderly residents.

The fire broke out in the mid-afternoon and intensified as the evening progressed, prompting authorities to raise the alert to a level 5 alarm, the highest category of severity, the Fire Services Department said.

Bamboo scaffolding remains a common feature at Hong Kong construction and renovation sites, although the government announced earlier this year that it plans to phase out its use in public projects due to safety concerns.

With inputs from AP