According to police officer Karen Tsang Shuk-yin, rescuers found the bodies of 18 more victims in the morning. "We expect this number may increase," he added.
Cheng Ka-chun, head of the identification department for the deceased, noted that bodies are being found not only in apartments but also on staircases, in hallways, and even on the roofs of buildings. He also emphasized that search operations are complicated by a lack of lighting.
The fire broke out on Wednesday, November 26, in one of the high-rise buildings of the complex, which housed about 4,800 people. Soon, the fire spread to seven of the eight towers, and it was only fully extinguished on November 28.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Law enforcement agencies have detained two directors and an engineer from the construction company on charges of "gross negligence." According to the police, the spread of the fire may have been facilitated by poor-quality building materials and polystyrene panels that blocked the windows.
Later, all three detainees were released on bail, but they were soon re-arrested by an independent anti-corruption commission, according to CBS. Earlier, the agency also detained seven men and one woman connected to the construction project.
