Hong Kong officials have held a moment of silence at the start of a three-day mourning period to remember those killed after the city's deadliest fire in nearly 80 years.
At least 128 people are now known to have died in the fire, which engulfed seven tower blocks on Wednesday. A further 83 were injured and 150 remain unaccounted for.
Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of corruption over the renovation works the blocks had been undergoing. Three others were detained earlier on manslaughter charges.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but officials have said it spread up and between the blocks rapidly because of flammable materials placed on their exterior.
Saturday morning's ceremony was held outside government headquarters, and saw city leader John Lee joined by other Hong Kong officials to observe three minutes of silence. The flags of China and Hong Kong were flown at half mast. The government has set up memorial points across the city, where the public can pay their respects and sign condolence books.
Once the fire started, it spread quickly to seven of the eight towers in Wang Fuk Court, located in Hong Kong's Tai Po district. More than 2,000 firefighters worked for nearly two days to control the blaze.
Reports indicate that polystyrene on the buildings' exteriors and bamboo scaffolding may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, sparking a debate about the continued use of such materials in construction.
Officials have confirmed that an investigation will take place over the coming weeks, as police gather evidence from the scene. The incident has caused public outrage and raised questions regarding accountability, especially concerning broken fire alarms and negligence in the ongoing renovations at Wang Fuk Court, which was built in 1983 and housed approximately 4,600 residents.
