Hong Kong, Nov 30 - At least nine people were killed and more than 30 others injured Wednesday in a fire that lasted over seven hours in a Hong Kong market area.

The blaze started around 4.40 a. m. at stalls on Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok area on the Kowloon Peninsula. The fire continued to rage well past noon even as it was tackled by 12 fire-fighting teams.

The injured include a one-year-old infant. Six people were in critical situation, Xinhua reported.

Mong Kok is one of the most densely populated areas in Hong Kong known to tourists for traditional markets and small shops.

The cause of the blaze was still unknown, but the possibility of arson could not be ruled out, said a police spokeswoman.

Huge economic losses were feared for shops at the site as they were stocking up for the upcoming holiday season.