Firefighters in Hong Kong continued efforts on Thursday to extinguish a massive blaze at a residential complex, marking the territory’s deadliest and most destructive fire in six decades. At least 75 people have been confirmed dead, including one firefighter.
Flames Under Control but Rescue Efforts Continue
Officials said flames in four buildings at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po were fully extinguished, while the remaining fires were under control. However, emergency crews were still trying to reach residents feared trapped on upper floors.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said authorities lost contact with 279 people early Thursday.
Families Still Searching for Missing Loved Ones
Residents described desperate attempts to reach their relatives.
Lawrence Lee said he has not heard from his wife, who he believes is still inside their apartment.
When the fire started, I told her to escape. But the corridor and stairs were filled with smoke. She had no choice but to go back inside, he said.
Yayuk, a 40-year-old Indonesian woman, told AFP she could not locate her elder sister, Sri-Wahyuni, who worked and lived in the estate.
I couldn’t sleep the whole night. This morning I went to the consulate to ask if she was in the hospital, she said.
More than 70 people were injured, many due to burns and smoke inhalation, according to the Hospital Authority.
Blaze Spread Quickly Through Seven Buildings
The fire began on Wednesday afternoon on bamboo scaffolding and construction netting. It rapidly spread across seven buildings in the complex.
Al Jazeera’s Katrina Yu, reporting from Beijing, said many in mainland China have been “watching aghast” as the disaster unfolded.
Authorities suspect materials on the exterior walls did not meet required fire resistance standards. Police also discovered highly flammable styrofoam attached to windows near elevator lobbies on each floor of an unaffected tower.
Arrests Made as Safety Concerns Grow
Police arrested three men from a construction company responsible for maintenance at the site. The suspects — two company directors and an engineering consultant — were detained on suspicion of manslaughter. Senior police superintendent Eileen Chung said they were believed to be “grossly negligent.”
Due to increasing safety concerns, Chief Executive Lee ordered immediate inspections of all housing estates undergoing major renovation. He also announced plans to phase out bamboo scaffolding, a long-standing construction method in Hong Kong.
The Construction Industry Council reports Hong Kong has 2,500 registered bamboo scaffolders. Since 2018, bamboo scaffolding accidents have resulted in 23 deaths.
Experts Call the Fire Unusually Severe
Fire safety engineer Alex Webb from CSIRO Infrastructure Technologies in Australia said the disaster was “quite shocking.” He added that fire regulations usually prevent flames from spreading between buildings.
“Typically, they don’t spread beyond the building of origin,” Webb said.
Analysts believe public anger may mount over the role of government building and fire safety regulators.
Chau Sze Kit, chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, said the entire sector needs review.
“We need to seriously examine fire safety and site management across the industry, including government oversight,” he said.
Support for Victims and Ongoing Investigations
The Wang Fuk Court complex has nearly 2,000 apartments and houses about 4,800 residents, including many elderly people who may have struggled to escape quickly.
Built in the 1980s, the complex was undergoing major renovations. Hong Kong’s anticorruption agency has launched an investigation into possible misconduct linked to the project.
Chief Executive Lee announced a HK$300 million (US$38.6 million) relief fund for residents. Major Chinese companies — including Xiaomi, Xpeng, Geely, and the charity foundation of Alibaba founder Jack Ma — have pledged millions in donations.
Comments 1