A terrifying inferno tore through Hong Kong’s Tai Po district last night, leaving the city shaken as seven massive high-rise buildings went up in flames within minutes. Residents described the scene as “a wall of fire,” with smoke so thick it turned day into night. Screams echoed between the towers as families rushed down stairwells filled with heat and darkness, desperately trying to escape before the flames overtook their homes.

By the time firefighters managed to reach the upper floors, the devastation had already unfolded. At least 36 people have been confirmed dead. Hundreds more were pulled from the burning structures, many suffering from severe burns, smoke inhalation, or injuries from falling debris. Hospitals across the region were overwhelmed as emergency rooms filled with survivors in shock, some still in pajamas, others clutching loved ones who didn’t make it out.

But the most haunting number remains the missing.

Authorities say 279 people are still unaccounted for. Entire families were separated as the towers collapsed internally, cutting off staircases and trapping people on high floors. Rescue crews are now searching through charred hallways and collapsed units, fighting both time and the lingering heat as they try to locate those still inside.

Fire officials believe the blaze may have started on a mid-level floor before spreading rapidly through aging electrical systems, but the exact cause is still under investigation. What’s clear is that this disaster struck faster than anyone could have imagined. Eyewitnesses say flames shot upward “like a blowtorch,” wrapping the towers in fire within minutes.

As Hong Kong wakes to the aftermath, shelters have opened for the displaced, families stand outside cordoned-off ruins praying for answers, and the entire region is holding its breath as rescue teams continue their heartbreaking search.

A catastrophe that began in seconds may take years for the city to recover from — and for many families, life will never be the same again.