At least 44 people dead in Hong Kong highrise blaze, police say

Dozens are dead and more still missing after a fire ripped through a Hong Kong highrise complex. Three men have been arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection with the fire.

At least 44 people are dead as of Thursday after a massive fire ripped through a highrise apartment complex in Hong Kong, with another 45 still in critical condition, police said.Police have arrested three men, aged between 52 and 68, on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the region's worst fire in three decades.Authorities said the unusual installation of styrofoam material found in the buildings could have caused the blazes to spread faster.By Thursday morning local time, at least 279 people were still missing. Fire officials said high temperatures have made rescue operations difficult and that they were struggling to reach the upper floors. The Wang Fuk Court housing complex is home to roughly 4,800 people in the Tai Po district in Hong Kong’s New Territories.