A devastating fire in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court complex has resulted in a significant loss of life, with the death toll currently standing at 128. The blaze, which began on Wednesday, engulfed seven of the complex’s eight buildings, prompting a massive response from the Hong Kong Fire Services.
Firefighters conducted an intensive, apartment-by-apartment search of the high-rise tower complex, finding dozens more bodies on Friday. The search effort prioritized apartments from which multiple calls for assistance were received during the fire but could not be reached. According to Derek Armstrong Chan, a deputy director of Hong Kong Fire Services, crews focused on these high-priority areas.
The death toll increased by 34 after the discovery of more bodies in the blackened towers. Secretary for Security Chris Tang confirmed that the search for victims is ongoing and the numbers could still rise. Some of the bodies found were severely burned, making identification challenging. The investigation into the fire is expected to last at least three to four weeks.
Preliminary findings indicate that some fire alarms in the complex were not functioning properly. Andy Yeung, the director of Hong Kong Fire Services, noted that this could have legal consequences. The fire started in one of the towers and quickly spread to adjacent buildings, fueled by bamboo scaffolding covered in netting that was in place for renovations.
It took firefighters approximately 24 hours to bring the blaze under control, with smoke continuing to emanate from the charred buildings even nearly two days later. The fire was not declared fully extinguished until Friday morning. In total, 2,300 firefighters and medical personnel were involved in the operation, with 12 firefighters among the 79 people injured.
The Wang Fuk Court complex, located in the Tai Po district, a northern suburb near Hong Kong’s border with mainland China, comprises almost 2,000 apartments and is home to approximately 4,800 residents. The cause of the fire and the exact number of people still unaccounted for remain unclear. The incident highlights the importance of fire safety and the need for functioning alarm systems in residential buildings. As the investigation continues, authorities will work to determine the cause of the fire and implement measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.