Hong Kong has been plunged into a state of collective grief as a three-day official mourning period commenced on Saturday for the 128 lives lost in one of the city's most catastrophic residential fires.
A City in Mourning
The solemn period began with Chief Executive John Lee leading senior ministers and dozens of top civil servants in observing three minutes of silence outside government headquarters. The flags of China and Hong Kong flew at half-mast during the poignant ceremony, reflecting the scale of the tragedy that has shaken the territory.
Even before the official observance, heartbroken citizens gathered near the charred remains of Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district, leaving floral tributes and messages of remembrance. "May your spirits in heaven always keep the joy alive," read one emotional note left at the disaster site.
The Search for Missing Continues
As the mourning continues, desperate families are scouring hospitals and victim identification centres in search of their loved ones. The situation remains dire with approximately 200 people still listed as missing and 89 bodies yet to be identified.
The human toll of the disaster was vividly illustrated by a man surnamed Fung, who visits the housing estate daily searching for his 80-year-old mother-in-law. "She is on antibiotics... so she is always sleeping. There was no fire alarm, so she might not have known there was a fire," he told reporters, highlighting the critical failure of safety systems.
Investigation and Arrests
Hong Kong's anti-corruption watchdog has taken decisive action, arresting eight people on Friday in connection with the blaze. Those detained include consultants, scaffolding subcontractors, and a middleman involved in the project. This comes after police previously arrested three men suspected of negligently leaving foam packaging at the fire site.
The fire services chief, Andy Yeung, revealed that alarm systems in all eight apartment blocks were malfunctioning during the incident, vowing to take action against the contractors responsible. Residents confirmed they heard no alarms and were forced to alert neighbours door-to-door as flames engulfed the complex.
The devastating fire, which represents Hong Kong's deadliest since 1948, spread with terrifying speed through the densely packed housing estate. Flames consumed seven of the eight high-rise buildings after starting on protective netting on the lower floors of one tower. Preliminary investigations indicate that highly flammable foam boards and bamboo scaffolding contributed to the rapid spread.
Security chief Chris Tang warned that the full investigation into the fire's causes could take up to four weeks, noting that authorities "do not rule out the possibility that police will find more charred remains when entering the building for detailed investigation."
The government has established condolence points across Hong Kong for the public to sign condolence books, while authorities have found temporary accommodation for approximately 800 displaced residents. Nine emergency shelters are currently operating, accommodating about 720 people overnight.
A remarkable community effort has emerged to support firefighters and those affected, with supply stations for clothes, food, and household goods established near the towers, alongside booths providing medical and psychological care. The response has been so overwhelming that organisers have asked donors to stop bringing items.
