Hong Kong firefighters scoured scorched high-rises Thursday for more than 250 people listed as missing, a day after the city’s worst fire in decades killed at least 55 residents in an apartment complex.
Over 24 hours after flames erupted in the eight-building Wang Fuk Court housing estate, which contains some 2,000 units, fire was still visible in several windows as crews sprayed water on the blackened exteriors.
Authorities have launched investigations into the cause of the blaze, including concerns over bamboo scaffolding and plastic mesh wrapped around the buildings as part of ongoing construction work. Hong Kong’s anti-corruption body also opened a probe into renovation work at the estate, hours after police arrested three men suspected of negligently leaving foam packaging at the site.
By Thursday afternoon, officials said the intense fires in four of the blocks had been extinguished, while fires in three others were under control. One building remained unaffected.
Residents reported a lack of fire alarms, forcing them to alert neighbours door-to-door. “The fire spread so quickly. I saw one hose trying to save several buildings, and I felt it was far too slow,” said a man surnamed Suen. “Ringing doorbells, knocking on doors, telling people to leave — that’s what it was like.”
Crowds gathered near the complex to organise aid for displaced residents and support firefighters, reflecting the densely populated city’s strong community spirit. “It’s truly touching. The spirit of Hong Kong people is that when one is in trouble, everyone lends support… It shows that Hong Kong people are full of love,” said Stone Ngai, one of the volunteers.
The fire service reported that 51 victims died at the scene, while four more succumbed to injuries in hospital. City authorities said 61 people are being treated in hospital, including 15 in critical condition.
Among the dead was a 37-year-old firefighter who was found with burns on his face after losing contact with colleagues. Two of the deceased were Indonesian migrant workers, the country’s consulate confirmed.
City leader John Lee said 279 people were initially unaccounted for, though firefighters later made contact with some. More than 900 people sought refuge at temporary shelters overnight.
On Wednesday night, sections of charred scaffolding collapsed as flames belched from apartments, casting an eerie orange glow across the district. “The temperature at the scene is very high, and there are some floors where we have been unable to reach people who requested help, but we will keep trying,” said Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of fire service operations. He added that wind and drifting debris may have spread the fire between buildings.
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the victims, including the firefighter who died in the line of duty. Lee said he was “deeply saddened” and confirmed that all government departments were assisting affected residents. By Thursday afternoon, some residents of adjacent buildings who had been evacuated as a precaution were allowed to return home.
Volunteers distributed clothes and food, while others circulated flyers with information on missing residents.
Deadly fires were once common in Hong Kong’s densely packed neighbourhoods, particularly in poorer areas. In recent decades, safety measures have reduced the frequency of such disasters, making this tragedy particularly shocking.
AFP
