Fire officials in Hong Kong are close to completing search and rescue efforts following a devastating fire at a high-rise apartment complex that claimed the lives of at least 94 individuals. The blaze, which also left over 70 people injured, including 11 firefighters, is one of the deadliest incidents in the city’s recent history. Rescuers armed with flashlights are meticulously combing through the charred towers of the Wang Fuk Court complex in the Tai Po district, a densely populated area near Hong Kong’s mainland border, where dense smoke continues to emanate from some windows.
Firefighters are still engaged in extinguishing the flames in a few remaining apartments and conducting thorough checks of all units within the seven towers to ensure no additional casualties. The Fire Services Department anticipates full extinguishment of the fire in the coming hours. Deputy director Derek Armstrong Chan stated that the firefighting operation is nearly concluded, with efforts now focused on preventing any potential flare-ups and intensifying the search-and-rescue mission.
The exact number of missing or trapped individuals remains uncertain. Hong Kong Leader John Lee reported the loss of contact with 279 people early Thursday. During a subsequent news briefing, authorities did not provide updates on the missing persons or the occupancy status of the affected buildings. Video footage shows rescuers navigating through darkened apartments while flames are still visible from some windows, despite the overall devastation of the complex.
Firefighters have been battling the inferno since Wednesday afternoon, when it is believed to have originated in bamboo scaffolding and construction netting before spreading across seven of the complex’s eight buildings. By Thursday afternoon, fires in four structures had been successfully extinguished, with the remaining three towers under control. Rescuers are diligently navigating through the high temperatures, conducting systematic searches floor by floor in a bid to rescue individuals swiftly.
Unfortunately, one firefighter was among the fatalities, with approximately 900 people evacuated to temporary shelters overnight. Residents like Lawrence Lee anxiously await updates on their loved ones, recounting harrowing experiences of navigating smoke-filled corridors during the chaos. Another couple, Winter and Sandy Chung, who witnessed the fire’s outbreak, expressed concerns about the fate of their home following the evacuation.
Three individuals, including directors and an engineering consultant from a construction company, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Authorities suspect gross negligence on the part of the construction company, with police conducting searches at the office of Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, responsible for renovations at the complex. Allegations suggest that certain materials on the building’s exterior failed to meet fire resistance standards, facilitating the rapid spread of the fire.
Further investigations revealed the presence of highly flammable Styrofoam attached to windows in the unaffected tower, prompting scrutiny of the construction company’s actions. The fire’s progression from external scaffolding to the interior of the building and neighboring structures was exacerbated by windy conditions, posing significant challenges for firefighting and rescue operations. Fire safety experts have expressed shock over the incident, highlighting the potential role of non-compliant materials in the fire’s rapid escalation.
The tragedy has left hundreds unaccounted for, with bamboo scaffolding, a common feature in Hong Kong’s construction projects, under scrutiny for safety concerns. The housing complex, comprising nearly 2,000 apartments accommodating around 4,800 residents, underwent extensive renovations and housed a significant elderly population. Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed condolences for the fallen firefighter and victims’ families, emphasizing the importance of minimizing casualties and losses in the aftermath of the catastrophic fire, one of the deadliest in Hong Kong’s recent history.