Incident Overview - A devastating fire in a Hong Kong apartment complex built in the 1980s has resulted in at least 44 fatalities, with many more missing [1][3] - The fire, which has been raging for over 17 hours, has prompted a large-scale emergency response, including firefighters and police [5][11] - President Xi Jinping has called for an all-out rescue effort [13] Investigation and Building Safety Concerns - A criminal investigation is underway due to suspicions of substandard building materials being used in the renovation [8] - Polystyrene materials and non-fire-resistant plastic sheeting were allegedly used, violating compliance standards [9] - Three arrests have been made in connection with the substandard materials [9] - The fire spread unusually fast, possibly due to the bamboo scaffolding and densely packed units characteristic of Hong Kong [7][8] Response and Support - Community centers have been opened to provide temporary shelter for displaced residents, with 1400 empty apartment units identified for temporary housing [13] - The government is focusing on providing support for displaced residents [12] - A firefighter, aged 37 with nine years of service, perished during the rescue efforts [13][14]