Hong Kong officials have held a moment of silence at the start of a three-day mourning period to remember those killed after the city's deadliest fire in nearly 80 years.
At least 128 people are now known to have died in the fire, which engulfed seven tower blocks on Wednesday. A further 83 were injured and 150 remain unaccounted for.
Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of corruption over the renovation works the blocks had been undergoing. Three others were detained earlier on manslaughter charges.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but officials have said it spread up and between the blocks rapidly because of flammable materials placed on their exterior.
Saturday morning's ceremony was held outside government headquarters, with city leader John Lee and other officials observing three minutes of silence. Flags of China and Hong Kong were flown at half-mast.
The government has set up memorial points across the city for public tributes and condolence book signings. The fire's rapid spread across Wang Fuk Court's seven towers raised significant concerns about building materials and fire safety protocols among authorities and residents.
Over 2,000 firefighters took nearly two days to bring the blaze under control, with lingering questions regarding the accountability of construction firms involved in the tower's renovations.
As investigations unfold, the Independent Commission Against Corruption indicated that those arrested include directors from an engineering firm and scaffolding subcontractors. Numerous complaints have emerged regarding the effectiveness of fire alarms, with the Ministry of Labour and Welfare stating inspections of the site had occurred regularly since July last year.
This tragedy marks a pivotal moment for Hong Kong, igniting urgent discussions on fire safety regulations in the city's iconic high-rise structures.
