Massive Hong Kong fire could stoke resentment ahead of December city election

Bodies were seen being transported onto waiting ambulances in Hong Kong on Thursday (November 27) as the number of victims of a massive fire continues to rise.

Authorities said the death toll from Hong Kong's deadliest fire in three decades has risen to at least 44 as of Thursday as firefighters battled to extinguish a huge blaze that ripped through high-rise residential towers sheathed in flammable bamboo scaffolding.

A firefighter was among the 44 killed, with 45 people in hospital in critical condition, Hong Kong police told a press conference before dawn.

Hong Kong's sky-high property prices have long been a trigger for social discontent in the city and the fire tragedy could further stoke resentment towards authorities ahead of a city-wide legislative election in early December.

-Tyrone Siu, Joyce Zhou, Fabian Hamacher/Reuters