Dozens dead after fire engulfs high-rise block in Hong Kong (VIDEOS)

Hundreds may still be trapped in an apartment block that reportedly houses nearly 5,000 people

At least 36 people have died and hundreds are missing after a massive fire engulfed a high-rise apartment block in Hong Kong on Wednesday, Reuters has reported. The blaze, which started mid-afternoon and quickly spread through the 31-storey towers, also left many injured.

The Fire Services Department told Reuters it did not yet know how many residents might still be inside. Wang Fuk Court, a complex of around 2,000 flats in the Tai Po district, houses about 4,800 people, according to AP, citing records.

More than 120 fire engines and hundreds of firefighters have been sent to the scene, but officials said the response has been hindered by falling debris and collapsing scaffolding that had been previously put up for exterior repair work.

Nine victims died at the scene, while four others were pronounced dead at hospitals, the authorities told reporters. About 700 residents were moved to temporary shelters.

The Fire Services Department said fatalities included a firefighter, while another crew member was being treated for heat exhaustion.

The complex, occupied for over 40 years, had been undergoing exterior repairs at the time of the fire, with the buildings encased in bamboo scaffolding and construction netting. Officials said the fire began on the external scaffolding of one block before moving inside and then spreading to adjacent buildings, likely helped by strong winds.