Fire officials in Hong Kong are close to completing search and rescue operations at a high-rise apartment complex where a blaze tragically claimed the lives of at least 94 individuals. Over 70 people sustained injuries, including 11 firefighters, marking one of the deadliest fires in the city’s recent history. The firefighters have largely contained the fire at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po district, a densely populated area near Hong Kong’s border with mainland China.
Rescuers equipped with flashlights are meticulously combing through the charred towers, with thick smoke still emanating from some windows. Firefighters are diligently working to check all the units in the seven towers to ensure no further casualties. The authorities anticipate fully extinguishing the blaze within the next few hours.
The exact number of missing or trapped individuals remains uncertain. Hong Kong Leader John Lee reported losing contact with 279 people early Thursday. Despite this, no updates were provided during a subsequent news conference regarding the missing individuals or those still inside the devastated buildings.
Efforts to control the flames began Wednesday afternoon, believed to have originated in bamboo scaffolding and construction netting before spreading across seven of the eight buildings in the complex. By Thursday afternoon, fires in four buildings had been successfully extinguished, with the remaining three towers under control.
Rescuers are facing challenges due to high temperatures as they meticulously search floor by floor for survivors. One firefighter was among the deceased, and around 900 individuals were evacuated to temporary shelters following the incident.
Authorities arrested three individuals, including construction company directors and an engineering consultant, on suspicions of manslaughter. The police have not disclosed the company’s name directly but have indicated gross negligence on the part of those in charge. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities suspecting non-compliant materials on the building’s exterior walls contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
The intensity of the blaze, which started externally and spread internally, was exacerbated by unfavorable windy conditions. A fire safety expert highlighted the unusual nature of the incident, emphasizing that fires typically do not spread beyond the building of origin under normal regulations.
Bamboo scaffolding, a common feature in Hong Kong’s construction landscape, may soon be phased out due to safety concerns. The housing complex, comprising nearly 2,000 apartments for approximately 4,800 residents, was constructed in the 1980s and was undergoing extensive renovations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed his condolences for the fallen firefighter and extended sympathies to the victims’ families. The devastating fire stands as one of the deadliest incidents in Hong Kong’s recent memory, reminiscent of a tragic event in November 1996 when 41 individuals perished in a commercial building fire in Kowloon.