The death toll in the deadly blaze that ravaged a Tai Po estate has killed at least 151 people, authorities have said, after police finished searching five of Wang Fuk Court’s seven affected towers. [...]

When the fire hit last Wednesday, the housing estate had been undergoing a large-scale revamp for over a year. The government announced on Saturday that it had suspended 30 other construction projects around the city – most were managed by the firm responsible for renovation work at the fire site.

Some construction netting samples taken from the site of the fatal Tai Po blaze have failed to meet fire safety standards, authorities said earlier on Monday.

“We believe it was the protective nets that did not meet fire resistance standards, and the Styrofoam boards, that caused the fire to spread so rapidly,” security chief Chris Tang told reporters.

Foam boards were used as part of protective materials, which authorities have pointed to as contributing to the fire’s rapid spread. Fire alarms were also faulty, authorities have said. [...]