At least 36 dead, 279 missing in building fire in Hong Kong

HONG KONG (NBC, KYMA) - Officials in Hong Kong say at least 36 people have died following a massive building fire.

The blaze broke out in a housing complex Wednesday and spread to multiple high-rise apartment buildings.

Hong Kong leader John Lee says 279 people were reported missing, and 29 remain hospitalized.

At least one of those fatalities was a firefighter who responded to the scene, and about 700 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters.

The raging fire sent up a column of flames and thick smoke as it spread on bamboo scaffolding and construction netting that had been set up around the exterior of the housing complex.

Video from the scene showed at least five buildings close to each other caught fire, with flames and smoke shooting out of many of apartment windows as night fell.