An Iranian resident in Hong Kong has described the past few days as a “horror” and a “nightmare”, as the latest escalation in the Middle East caused him to lose contact with loved ones due to failed internet connections and fear for their ability to get to safety.

The Immigration Department said that as of Monday 5pm, it had received inquiries from 21 Hong Kong residents in Israel and Iran, among whom 18 had safely left the areas.

“The [department] is maintaining close contact with the remaining three individuals, offering them appropriate advice and assistance regarding their travel plans and flight information,” a spokesman said.

Behzad Mirzaei, who has lived in Hong Kong for three decades and is the founder of the local Persian Club, said the stress from worrying about his family and friends in Iran had caused him to lose sleep.

“My mother is stuck there, my best friends are stuck there, my elder brother is stuck there and my younger brother is stuck in a different city,” he said.

He described the situation as a “nightmare”, especially since his hometown, Isfahan, where a research centre is located, was one of three nuclear sites that the United States military attacked on the weekend.