An elderly man has died after being severely burnt in a fire that broke out in a North Point building, with all lanes in a section of a major road in the east of Hong Kong Island closed in one direction because of the blaze.

Police said on Saturday that they had received reports of a fire breaking out at around 4.15pm in the Mido Apartments building on King’s Road.

Thick smoke billowed from the building, online photos show, while firefighters used an extendable ladder to rescue residents.

At least three fire engines were deployed to the scene.

The police force said that a man in his seventies suffered severe burns and was sent to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai but was pronounced dead at around 5.45pm.