A catastrophic fire at a residential complex in Hong Kong has claimed the lives of at least 55 people, with authorities reporting hundreds more missing and dozens fighting for their lives in hospital.
Arrests and Allegations of Gross Negligence
In a significant development, Hong Kong police have arrested three individuals in connection with the blaze. The suspects include two directors and an engineering consultant from a construction company, who have been detained on suspicion of manslaughter.
Police Superintendent Eileen Chung stated, "We have reason to believe that the company's responsible parties were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties." The company involved has not been publicly named.
Scale of the Disaster and Emergency Response
The fire erupted at 2.51pm local time on Wednesday at the Wang Fuk Court complex in the suburban Tai Po district, home to approximately 300,000 residents. The inferno rapidly engulfed seven of the site's eight residential blocks, which were undergoing renovation at the time.
Tragically, the blaze resulted in a devastating loss of life and displaced hundreds of residents. Nearly 300 people are currently reported as missing, while 45 individuals are in hospital in a critical condition. Around 900 people have been forced to seek refuge in temporary shelters.
Fire crews battled the flames through the night, finally managing to extinguish the fire in all seven affected blocks by Thursday morning. Among the fatalities was one firefighter who lost his life while tackling the blaze.
Investigation Focus and Wider Reactions
Initial investigations suggest the fire started in bamboo scaffolding and construction mesh sheets covering the complex, with windy conditions potentially aiding its rapid spread across the buildings' facades.
The use of bamboo scaffolding, while common in Hong Kong, has been under scrutiny due to safety concerns and is being phased out. Hong Kong's Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims noted this is at least the third fire involving bamboo scaffolding this year.
The disaster has drawn comparisons to the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy in London. The Grenfell United survivors' group expressed solidarity, posting on social media: "Our hearts go out to all those affected by the horrific fire in Hong Kong. To the families, friends and communities, we stand with you. You are not alone."
Hong Kong leader John Lee announced the government will establish a HK$300 million (£29 million) fund to assist affected residents. The complex, built in the 1980s, consists of eight blocks containing almost 2,000 flats and was home to around 4,800 residents, including many elderly people.
International condolences have been sent from the US and British Consulate Generals in Hong Kong, as well as from Taiwan's president. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for an "all-out effort" to manage the aftermath and minimise casualties.
This tragedy marks the deadliest fire in Hong Kong since 1948, when a warehouse blaze killed 176 people.
