Hong Kong Mourns as Apartment Fire Becomes Deadliest in Decades
The death toll from a catastrophic fire that tore through a Hong Kong apartment complex has risen sharply, with authorities confirming 146 bodies have now been recovered. The blaze at Wang Fuk Court, which erupted on Wednesday, was not fully extinguished until Friday, leaving a trail of destruction through seven of the complex's eight residential towers.
Challenging Search and Rising Casualties
Search and recovery efforts are progressing slowly and are expected to take three to four weeks to complete. Police have so far combed through four of the fire-ravaged buildings. Shuk-yin Tsang, the head of the Hong Kong police casualty unit, stated that another 100 people remain unaccounted for, while 79 individuals sustained injuries.
Cheng Ka-chun, the police officer leading the search operation, described the immense difficulties his teams are facing. "It is so dark inside, and because of the low light, it is very difficult to do the work, especially in places away from the windows," he said. Bodies have been discovered both inside apartments and on the roofs of the towers.
Renovation Materials and Public Anger
At the time the fire broke out, the Wang Fuk Court towers were undergoing renovations and were shrouded in bamboo scaffolding draped with nylon netting. Critically, windows were covered with polystyrene panels, a material residents had repeatedly warned authorities was highly flammable. They were reportedly told the site posed "relatively low fire risks."
This has sparked significant public fury, with an online petition demanding an independent probe into potential corruption and a review of construction oversight gathering over 10,000 signatures before it was closed.
In response, city officials have suspended 28 building projects undertaken by the contractor in charge of the renovations, Prestige Construction & Engineering Company. They stated the fire had "exposed serious deficiencies" in the company's site safety, specifically citing "the extensive use of foam boards to block up windows during building repairs."
A City in Mourning and Calls for Justice
The fire is now considered Hong Kong's deadliest in more than 75 years. On Sunday, over 1,000 mourners turned out to pay tribute, with queues for a makeshift flower memorial stretching for more than a kilometre. Many left heartfelt notes addressed to the victims.
Among them was Joey Yeung, 28, whose grandmother's apartment was destroyed. "I can't accept it," she said. "I'm not asking to get anything back but at least give some justice to the families of the deceased - to those who are still alive."
Another mourner, Lian Shuzheng, reflected on the broader implications, saying, "This really serves as a wake-up call for everyone, especially with these super high-rise buildings."
The legal process is underway. The day after the fire began, two directors and an engineering consultant from a construction firm were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Police suspect gross negligence. The three men were later rearrested by Hong Kong’s anti-corruption authorities, who have made a further eight arrests. Beijing has also warned it will use national security laws to crack down on any protests stemming from the tragedy.
