The death toll from the fire at an apartment complex in Hong Kong has increased to 146, with more bodies being discovered by investigators. People continue to pay their respects at a growing memorial at the site, marking one of the city’s worst disasters.
The Hong Kong police Disaster Victim Identification Unit has been meticulously searching the Wang Fuk Court complex, finding bodies in both apartments and on the rooftops. Despite the buildings remaining structurally intact, the search progress has been slow due to challenging conditions inside the dark and poorly lit areas away from the windows.
Authorities have examined four out of the seven blocks, with the latest searches uncovering an additional 30 bodies, including some that were previously located by firefighters but not yet retrieved. In response to the tragedy, Hong Kong officials have halted work on 28 building projects by the same contractor, Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, for safety evaluations.
Following the fire, three individuals associated with a construction company were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, with further arrests made by anti-corruption authorities. The complex, consisting of eight 31-storey buildings in Tai Po, was built in the 1980s and housed nearly 2,000 apartments and over 4,600 residents.
Investigations revealed that the fire originated on scaffolding netting and rapidly spread due to combustible foam panels, faulty fire alarms, and strong winds. The victims included migrant workers from Indonesia and the Philippines, with several individuals still unaccounted for. In response to the tragedy, a nationwide inspection of high-rise buildings was announced in Beijing to enhance fire safety measures.
The devastating incident at Wang Fuk Court is the deadliest fire in Hong Kong since 1948, underscoring the urgent need for improved safety standards in high-rise buildings.
