The death toll from Hong Kong’s most lethal fire in over sixty years has reached 128, with approximately 200 individuals reported missing, according to officials. The devastating blaze affected several high-rise public housing towers in Tai Po on Wednesday afternoon.
On Friday, Hong Kong’s Security Chief Chris Tang announced the completion of rescue operations at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex, home to over 4,600 residents. The Fire Services Department indicated that the fire had been “largely extinguished” by 10:18 AM local time (02:18 GMT), marking the end of firefighting efforts.
Fire crews faced extreme conditions, including intense heat, thick smoke, and the risk of collapsing scaffolding, as they attempted to reach residents believed to be trapped on the upper floors of the towers. The estate was undergoing renovations and had been wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and construction mesh at the time of the fire.
Authorities have detained three officials from the construction company involved in the renovation, alleging manslaughter for purportedly using hazardous and highly flammable materials, such as foam boards that obstructed escape routes by being placed over windows.
Although the flames have subsided, firefighters continued to search the charred buildings for any additional victims. “We’ll endeavor to force entry into all units across the seven towers to ensure there are no additional casualties,” said Deputy Fire Services Director Derek Chan. Most of the deceased were recovered from two of the towers, and survivors were found in several other buildings.
Among the victims were two Indonesian domestic workers, as confirmed by the Indonesian consulate. Hong Kong has approximately 368,000 domestic workers, predominantly women from low-income Asian countries who live with their employers.
This incident marks Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since 1948, which claimed 176 lives in a warehouse blaze. It has drawn comparisons to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, which resulted in 72 fatalities.
In response to the tragedy, Chief Executive John Lee announced the establishment of a HK$300 million (about US$39 million) relief fund for affected residents. Several prominent Chinese companies have also pledged donations to assist survivors and displaced families.
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