HONG KONG (AP) — The deadliest fire in decades struck Hong Kong, claiming at least 128 lives and illuminating significant concerns surrounding corruption and negligence related to the renovations of the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex. This incident has prompted an urgent investigation as residents had raised safety alarms more than a year before the tragic event.
The inferno erupted on Wednesday afternoon at the Wang Fuk Court complex, located in the northern suburbs of Hong Kong, engulfing seven out of eight towers while home to approximately 4,800 residents. Preliminary reports indicate that the blaze initiated on a lower-level scaffolding net, rapidly spreading as highly flammable foam panels were ignited. The rapid escalation of the fire has raised serious questions about the safety protocols in place during the renovation project.
In response to the calamity, police apprehended three men from a construction company on charges of manslaughter and gross negligence, although they have since been released on bail. Authorities later arrested eight additional individuals, including scaffolding subcontractors and project managers, as part of a broader corruption investigation. The company implicated in the renovations was identified as Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, and police have seized numerous documents from their offices amidst the ongoing inquiry.
The tragedy has shed light on serious concerns raised by residents over the past year regarding the construction materials used, particularly the scaffolding netting. The Hong Kong labor department confirmed receiving multiple complaints and stated that they conducted 16 inspections of the renovation project since July 2024. Despite assurances regarding fire safety compliance, investigations revealed troubling results, such as non-functioning fire alarms within the complex, significantly impacting elderly residents during the disaster.
According to Chris Tang, the city’s secretary for security, the blaze intensified significantly as the fire spread to the foam panels, ultimately causing glass to shatter and facilitating its rapid invasion into the interior spaces. The firefighting efforts lasted over two days, with firefighters ultimately controlling the flames only after an arduous 40 hours. The scene of destruction severely affected first responders, leaving 79 individuals injured and resulting in the tragic death of one firefighter.
Authorities confirmed they had concluded their search and rescue operations, while ongoing efforts are focused on identifying 89 bodies from a total of 200 persons previously unaccounted for. Residents expressed disbelief and sorrow over the catastrophic event, with many like 70-year-old Katy Lo, who was away during the fire, returning to see the wreckage of her home. The fire devastated not only local residents but also included migrant workers among the deceased; two Indonesian domestic helpers were confirmed dead, with several others still missing.
As the city mourns in the wake of the tragedy, flags have been lowered to half-staff. Chief Executive John Lee led a moment of silence on Saturday, reflecting the collective grief shared by the community. This fire has now been recognized as the deadliest in Hong Kong’s recent history, surpassing the 1996 Kowloon commercial building fire that resulted in 41 fatalities, as well as a historic warehouse blaze in 1948 that took 176 lives.
