At least 146 people are confirmed dead in a devastating fire that tore through multiple high-rise buildings in Hong Kong's Tai Po district last week.

The catastrophe, which has also left 79 injured, has prompted a major criminal investigation and widespread public mourning.

Police announced the grim death toll at a news conference on Sunday, cautioning that they "cannot rule out the possibility of further fatalities," as approximately 150 individuals remain missing.

Seven of the eight tower blocks in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in the northerly Tai Po district rapidly caught fire on Wednesday evening. The blaze, which spread quickly both upwards and between separate blocks, was only fully extinguished by Friday morning, requiring the efforts of more than 2,000 firefighters.

The exact cause of the blaze has yet to be determined, but preliminary findings point to flammable materials used on the buildings' exterior during ongoing renovations. Officials stated the fire reached a peak temperature of 500°C (932°F) and spread rapidly due to the presence of plastic netting and other flammable materials on the outside of the blocks, sparking significant public anger and concern over safety standards.

In connection with the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire disaster, authorities have detained a total of eleven individuals: eight people have been arrested on suspicion of corruption linked to the renovation works on the towers, while three others face manslaughter charges.

Police began entering the buildings to gather evidence on Friday, and an official investigation is expected to take three to four weeks. Police official Tsang Shuk-yin confirmed on Sunday that search operations had been completed in four of the eight tower blocks.

On Sunday, thousands of residents gathered at the Wang Fuk Court complex to mourn the victims, with queues stretching nearly 2 kilometers to pay respects.

Among the confirmed fatalities is 37-year-old firefighter Ho Wai-ho, who was found collapsed at the scene on Wednesday shortly after contact with him was lost. Twelve other firefighters were injured battling the blaze.

The disaster has also impacted foreign nationals residing in Hong Kong. Consulates confirmed the deaths of at least seven Indonesian nationals and one Filipino citizen in the fire.

Authorities have begun cross-referencing information recovered from the search blocks with dental records and DNA samples provided by families.

The search for the remaining missing persons is continuing in the unaffected blocks, though officials fear many may be within the sections that sustained the most catastrophic damage. (ILKHA)