As the death toll in the Hong Kong apartment complex fire tops 150, Chinese authorities seek to stifle criticism amid new revelations of safety violations.

Environmental groups emphasize the need for immediate forest restoration efforts to prevent further tragedies.

HONG KONG — The death toll of Hong Kong’s high-rise apartment blaze rose to 159 on Wednesday, as authorities arrested six people on suspicion of deactivating some fire alarms during maintenance work at the housing complex. The youngest person who died in the fire was a 1-year-old infant, police said. The oldest was 97.

The Palestinian death toll has surpassed 70,000 since the Israel-Hamas war began, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Saturday, while a hospital said that Israeli fire killed two Palestinian children in the territory's south.

Rescue operations were underway in Sri Lanka on November 30, as the death toll from rainfall-triggered landslides and floods rose to 193, officials said.According to Daily News, officials said 228 people remained missing as of Sunday.

The Palestinian death toll has surpassed 70,000 since the Israel-Hamas war began, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Saturday, while a hospital said that Israeli fire killed two Palestinian children in the territory's south.