Three days of mourning begin after Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades

Hong Kong officials have begun a three-day mourning period after the deadliest fire in nearly 80 years, which killed at least 128 people and injured 83 others. The fire, which engulfed seven tower blocks on Wednesday, has sparked a debate about the use of flammable materials such as polystyrene and plastic netting around scaffolding. Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of corruption over renovation works, while three others face manslaughter charges. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire, which authorities say spread rapidly due to faulty fire alarms and negligence. The government has set up memorial points across the city for the public to pay their respects. A moment of silence was held outside government headquarters on Saturday morning to mark the start of the mourning period.

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