Kate Garraway delivered the heartbreaking news coming out of Hong Kong live on the ITV show.

Kate Garraway brought Good Morning Britain to a halt for some devastating breaking news (Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Good Morning Britain came to an unexpected halt as host Kate Garraway issued some devastating breaking news. On Thursday (November 27), the 58-year-old broadcaster returned to the helm of the ITV morning show to deliver the latest news. But minutes into the live show, she issued some tragic breaking news coming out of Hong Kong.

On Wednesday night (November 26), a fire, spanning seven blocks of a high-rise housing complex, went up in flames. The death toll has risen to 44, with some 279 people still missing, making it the city’s worst fire in more than half a century.

The flames are still not yet contained, almost 22 hours after they broke out in the northern Tai Po district. Police have arrested three construction company executives, two directors, and one engineering consultant on suspicion of manslaughter.

Rescue teams have started searching apartments for survivors in four of the towers where the fire has been extinguished, but the death toll is expected to continue to rise. At the time of writing this article, another 45 people remain in critical condition in hospitals around the country.

Shortly after the news came in, Kate threw the show over to her news correspondent, Laura Westbrook, who reported live from the scene outside the torched building in Hong Kong. With the burning building in the background, Laura revealed: “As you can see behind me, firefighters are continuing to spray water onto these buildings.

“You can taste the smoke, and black smoke is continuing to come off these buildings behind me. Authorities say at least 44 people have died and 279 people remain missing. Emergency shelters have been opened for those affected, as well as centres for people to register their missing loved ones.”

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44 people have been killed in the Hong Kong fire but the death toll is expected to keep rising (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

She went on: “One woman told me that she’s really worried because she hasn’t been able to contact one of her friends who lives in the buildings. Officials are investigating, and scrutiny is turning to the materials used in this renovation, with some of the materials covering the buildings that may not have met fire safety standards.

“Styrofoam materials were also used in the renovation, which is obviously highly flammable and may have been one of the reasons why this fire spread so intensely and so quickly.”

Wang Fuk Court, a 2,000-unit residential complex comprising eight blocks, was undergoing various renovations at the time of the fire. Experts claim that bamboo scaffolding likely contributed to the fire spreading out of control between the buildings.

John Lee, Hong Kong’s chief executive, says the government may postpone their December 7 General Election due to the travesty, calling the blaze a “massive catastrophe”.

It didn’t take long before viewers flocked to X – formerly known as Twitter – to share their sympathies for the residents of Hong Kong online. One user penned: “Cutting costs = killing people, no matter where you live. So sad for Hong Kong.” Another agreed: “I read that polystyrene played a part again. Why are they allowed to use highly flammable materials?”

A third simply stated: “The footage of the flats burning was truly terrible [crying emoji].” New reports emerging from Hong Kong have revealed that fires at four of the seven residential blocks have now been extinguished, while the three remaining are now under control, according to the South China Morning Post.

Four drones are being used to monitor the scene, and 11 fire hoses, along with 26 rescue teams, have been deployed. In total, the Fire Services Department has mobilised 1,250 firefighters and dispatched 304 fire engines and rescue vehicles to contain the blaze.