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Firefighters Battle Hong Kong High-Rise Blaze as Death Toll Climbs to 94
Firefighters worked for a second consecutive day Thursday to extinguish a devastating fire at a Hong Kong apartment complex that has killed 94 people, making it one of the deadliest blazes in the city’s modern history.
Emergency personnel equipped with flashlights continued searching through charred apartments at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po district, a densely populated residential area near Hong Kong’s border with mainland China. Thick smoke continued to pour from windows of the damaged buildings as rescue efforts intensified.
“Our firefighting operation is almost complete,” said Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of Fire Services Operations. “We’re working hard to prevent debris and embers from flaring up. What’s next is the search and rescue operation.”
The fate of hundreds of residents remains uncertain. Hong Kong leader John Lee reported that authorities had lost contact with 279 people early Thursday, though officials did not provide updates on this figure during subsequent press conferences. The number of injured stood at more than 70, including 11 firefighters.
The blaze began Wednesday afternoon, originating in bamboo scaffolding and construction netting before rapidly engulfing seven of the complex’s eight towers. Emergency responders faced extraordinary challenges accessing the burning buildings.
“Debris and scaffolding were falling from upper floors,” Chan explained. “There were other obstacles including high temperatures and darkness. Emergency vehicle access was blocked by fallen scaffolding and debris, making our approach to the building extremely difficult.”
Nearly 900 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters overnight, with many anxiously awaiting word about missing loved ones. Among them was Lawrence Lee, who feared for his wife’s safety after she became trapped in their apartment.
“When the fire started, I told her on the phone to escape. But once she left the flat, the corridor and stairs were all filled with smoke and it was all dark, so she had no choice but to go back to the flat,” he recounted while waiting at a shelter.
Winter Chung, 75, who evacuated with his wife Sandy on Wednesday afternoon, described seeing sparks flying as they fled. “I couldn’t sleep the entire night,” he told The Associated Press, concerned about the condition of their home.
Police have arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter—two directors and an engineering consultant from the construction company responsible for renovations at the complex. Authorities conducted a search of Prestige Construction & Engineering Company’s offices, seizing documents as evidence.
“We have reason to believe that those in charge of the construction company were grossly negligent,” said Senior Superintendent Eileen Chung.
Investigators suspect that materials used on the buildings’ exterior walls failed to meet fire resistance standards, contributing to the fire’s unusually rapid spread. Police also discovered potentially flammable plastic foam panels near elevator lobbies in the one building that escaped the blaze, believed to have been installed by the construction company.
Wang Fuk Court, built in the 1980s, comprises eight buildings with nearly 2,000 apartments housing approximately 4,800 residents, including many elderly people. The complex had been undergoing extensive renovations when the disaster struck. Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency announced Thursday it was launching an investigation into possible corruption related to the renovation project.
Officials said strong winds likely helped spread the fire after it began on the external bamboo scaffolding of a 32-story tower. The tragedy has prompted authorities to reconsider construction practices that have long been part of Hong Kong’s urban landscape.
“While bamboo scaffolding has a long history in Hong Kong, its flame retardancy is inferior to that of metal scaffolding,” said Eric Chan, the Chief Secretary for Administration. “For safety reasons, the government believes that a complete switch to metal scaffolding should be implemented in suitable working environments.”
In response to the disaster, authorities will immediately inspect all housing estates currently undergoing major renovation to verify that scaffolding and construction materials comply with safety standards.
The incident marks Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades. The last comparable tragedy occurred in November 1996, when 41 people perished in a commercial building fire in Kowloon that raged for approximately 20 hours.
Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to Hong Kong’s bishop expressing his sadness over the disaster and offering prayers for the injured, their families and emergency workers involved in the response efforts.
The catastrophe has raised serious questions about building safety standards and construction practices in one of the world’s most densely populated cities, where aging high-rise buildings are commonplace and renovation projects are constantly underway throughout the territory.
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7 Comments
Losing 94 lives in a single incident is devastating. My heart goes out to the community. I hope the investigation sheds light on the cause and leads to reforms that can prevent such tragedies in the future.
Agreed, this is a terrible loss of life. Transparency in the investigation process is crucial to ensure lessons are learned and applied to improve fire safety going forward.
This is a sobering reminder of the importance of fire safety, especially in dense urban environments. I hope the authorities are able to account for all missing residents and provide support to the affected families.
High-rise fires are especially dangerous and challenging for firefighters. I hope the rescue and recovery efforts are successful in accounting for all residents. Improved building codes and fire safety protocols may be needed to enhance safety in densely populated areas.
You’re right, high-rise fires pose unique challenges. Rigorous inspections and enforcement of fire safety regulations should be a priority to protect residents.
Firefighters and emergency responders deserve recognition for their courageous efforts to battle this blaze. While the loss of life is tragic, their actions likely saved many more. Improving building codes and fire prevention measures should be a priority.
This is a tragic incident. My condolences to the families of the victims. Fires of this magnitude require a thorough investigation to understand the cause and implement measures to prevent such disasters in the future.