Chief Executive John Lee said early Thursday that 36 people died and 279 people were unaccounted for in the massive fire that ripped through a Tai Po housing estate.

Lee also said firefighters have brought the No. 5 alarm blaze at Wang Fuk Court gradually under control.

Speaking at Prince of Wales Hospital where he visited some of the victims, the chief executive said of the 29 hospitalised, seven were in critical condition.

Lee said the priority is to put out the blaze and rescue those trapped.

He said firefighters believe they have sufficient manpower and ability to tackle the blaze.

"Through the continuous hard work of firefighters, the situation at the scene was gradually brought under control. Up until now, the assessment of the director of fire services is that the department has sufficient manpower and ability to handle the fire," he told reporters.

"I have directed the department to use all of its resources to put out the fire at full speed. All of the government's resources will be used to support the department."

Lee also said law enforcement agencies have set up a task force to probe the cause of the fire, and housing and lands officials will investigate whether the buildings, as well as bamboo scaffolding and protective nets used in renovation works, were up to standard.

He said the case will be transferred to the Coroner.

For his part, Secretary for Security Chris Tang said the fire spread in an "unusual" manner, and a criminal probe has been launched.

The CE added that he's thankful for President Xi Jinping's concern for the victims and for asking Beijing authorities overseeing Hong Kong's affairs to support the SAR.