Death toll in Hong Kong apartment complex blaze rises to 146 as the city mourns

The death toll from Hong Kong’s devastating apartment complex fire climbed to 146 on Sunday as investigators continued their painstaking search through the charred remains of Wang Fuk Court. With 100 people still unaccounted for and 79 injured, officials expect the number of fatalities to rise further in what has become one of the worst disasters in the city’s history.

Search teams from Hong Kong’s Disaster Victim Identification Unit have been methodically combing through four of the seven affected residential blocks, discovering bodies in apartment units and on rooftops. Cheng Ka-chun, the officer leading the search effort, described challenging conditions inside the buildings.

“It is so dark inside, and because of the low light, it is very difficult to do the work, especially in places away from the windows,” Cheng told reporters while still dressed in his protective gear.

Although the buildings remain structurally sound, the search has progressed slowly. The latest efforts recovered an additional 30 bodies, including 12 previously spotted by firefighters but not yet retrieved, according to Tsang Shuk-yin, head of the police casualty unit.

A growing memorial of flowers, handwritten notes, and tributes has formed near the disaster site as residents pay their respects. Hundreds queued to add their contributions to the makeshift shrine.

“This really serves as a wake-up call for everyone, especially with these super high-rise buildings,” said Lian Shuzheng, who waited in line to place flowers at the memorial.

The fire, which started Wednesday and wasn’t fully extinguished until Friday, raised serious questions about safety protocols. The eight buildings in the complex were undergoing renovations and had been encased in bamboo scaffolding covered with nylon netting. Windows had been covered with polystyrene panels, which investigators believe may have contributed to the fire’s rapid spread.

Hong Kong officials took swift action Saturday, suspending work on 28 other building projects undertaken by the same contractor, Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, pending safety audits. The government statement cited “serious deficiencies” in site safety management, particularly noting “the extensive use of foam boards to block up windows during building repairs.”

The contractor did not respond to requests for comment.

Law enforcement has moved aggressively in response to the tragedy. Three men – directors and an engineering consultant from a construction company – were initially arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, with police suggesting company leaders demonstrated gross negligence. These individuals were subsequently rearrested by Hong Kong’s anti-corruption authorities, along with eight additional suspects including scaffolding subcontractors, engineering consultants, and renovation project managers.

While the public has demanded a thorough investigation through online petitions, China’s national security authority issued a stern warning Saturday against what it termed “disruptive” actions connected to the disaster.

“We warn those anti-China elements… no matter what methods they use, they’ll be held accountable by the Hong Kong National Security Law and National Security Ordinance,” the statement read.

The Wang Fuk Court complex, built in the 1980s, consisted of eight 31-story buildings housing approximately 4,600 residents in nearly 2,000 apartments. Many survivors are currently sheltered in emergency accommodations or hotels while authorities work on long-term housing solutions.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Jeffery Chan, a civil servant who came to pay respects. “As a Hong Konger, seeing people in the place where we live lose their families, lose everything in just one night — if you put yourself in their shoes, it is unbearable.”

Preliminary investigations indicate the fire originated Wednesday afternoon on scaffolding netting at a lower level of one building before rapidly spreading as foam panels ignited and windows blew out. Strong winds helped flames jump between buildings until seven of the eight structures were engulfed.

First responders discovered that some fire alarms in the complex failed to sound when tested, according to Andy Yeung, director of Hong Kong Fire Services. The complex housed many elderly residents.

The disaster has also claimed the lives of foreign nationals, including seven Indonesian migrant workers and one Filipino domestic helper, with dozens more still unaccounted for according to foreign ministry officials.

In response to the tragedy, Beijing’s Ministry of Emergency Management has ordered nationwide inspections of high-rise buildings to identify and eliminate fire hazards, particularly focusing on bamboo scaffolding, non-flame-retardant safety nets, and firefighting equipment.

This fire represents Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze since a 1948 warehouse fire killed 176 people. The most catastrophic fire in the city’s recorded history remains the 1918 Race Course Fire, which claimed more than 600 lives.