HONG KONG (AP) – Firefighters continued to battle one of Hong Kong’s deadliest modern blazes for a second consecutive day, as they sought to control a fire that devastated the Wang Fuk Court complex in the Tai Po district. As of Thursday, the tragic incident had claimed the lives of at least 44 people, including one firefighter, and left 62 others injured, many suffering from severe burn and inhalation injuries. The fire, which broke out Wednesday afternoon, rapidly spread across seven of the complex's eight high-rise buildings.
Thick smoke billowed from the residential complex, which is located in a northern suburb near the border with mainland China. By midday Thursday, fire services reported that they had managed to bring four of the affected towers under control, yet conditions remained hazardous for both rescues and firefighting efforts. Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of Fire Service operations, indicated that high temperatures inside the buildings hampered access for emergency personnel.
In the wake of the disaster, police arrested three men affiliated with Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, which was responsible for renovations at the site. The suspects, identified as the company's directors and an engineering consultant, are being investigated for potential manslaughter due to alleged gross negligence. According to police, initial assessments indicated that the materials used on the exterior walls of the buildings may have failed to meet fire resistance standards, potentially facilitating the rapid spread of the flames.
Authorities discovered highly flammable Styrofoam materials attached to windows on each floor of the unaffected building, which was believed to be installed during the renovation process. The exact purpose of these materials remains unclear, but Secretary for Security Chris Tang stated that an investigation into the fire's sources would proceed. It is believed that the fire ignited on external scaffolding of a 32-story tower and subsequently spread through the bamboo scaffolding and construction netting, exacerbated by windy conditions.
As night fell, around 900 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters, while authorities reported losing contact with 279 individuals during the chaos. Lawrence Lee, a resident anxiously waiting for news about his wife, recounted the horror of the fire. He stated that after instructing her to escape via phone, she was forced to return to their apartment when smoke filled the hallways, blocking her exit. Others, like Winter and Sandy Chung, spoke about the terrifying experience as sparks flew around them during their evacuation.
Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, pledged to prioritize disaster response efforts and announced a halt to promotional activities for the upcoming Legislative Council elections scheduled for December 7. While he did not clarify if the elections would be postponed, he indicated that further decisions would be forthcoming. In a gesture of condolence, Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed sympathies to the victims’ families and more broadly to those affected by the blaze, urging all to minimize further casualties and losses.
This incident marks a significant tragedy in Hong Kong’s recent history; the fire is noted as the deadliest in the region in decades, reminiscent of the November 1996 fire in Kowloon that resulted in the deaths of 41 individuals. Recovery efforts continued as firefighters worked tirelessly to control the scene and assist trapped residents.
