A fire engulfed several high-rise residential towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district Wednesday, killing at least 13 people and reportedly trapping others inside.

Hong Kong police said on Thursday the death toll in a fire that ripped through residential blocks in the city had risen to 40, with 45 people still in a critical condition.

More than 700 firefighters are at the scene trying to tackle the blaze at Wang Fuk Court - which houses about 4,600 residents