Fire officials in Hong Kong are close to completing search and rescue operations following a devastating blaze at a high-rise apartment complex that claimed the lives of at least 94 individuals. Over 70 people sustained injuries, including 11 firefighters, marking this incident as one of the most tragic fires in the city’s recent memory.
Rescuers equipped with flashlights are meticulously combing through the charred towers of the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po district, a densely populated area near Hong Kong’s border with the mainland. While firefighters are still addressing a few remaining apartments, efforts are underway to thoroughly inspect all units across the seven towers to ensure no additional casualties. Officials anticipate the fire to be fully extinguished in the coming hours.
Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of the Fire Services Department, stated that the firefighting operation is nearing completion, with a focus on preventing any potential flare-ups of debris and embers. The search-and-rescue phase is set to follow.
The exact number of missing or trapped individuals remains uncertain. Hong Kong Leader John Lee reported a loss of contact with 279 people early Thursday. However, official updates on the missing persons and those still within the affected buildings were not provided during subsequent press briefings.
Video footage depicts rescuers navigating through smoke-filled apartments, with lingering flames visible in some windows despite the overall devastation of the complex. Firefighters have been battling the flames since the fire’s inception, believed to have originated in bamboo scaffolding and construction netting before spreading to seven of the eight buildings within the complex. As of Thursday afternoon, fires in four buildings have been successfully extinguished, with the remaining three towers under control.
Rescue teams are confronting challenging conditions, ascending floors systematically to conduct thorough searches and expedite the rescue process. Sadly, one firefighter was among the casualties, and around 900 individuals were evacuated to temporary shelters overnight.
The incident has led to the arrest of three individuals associated with a construction company on suspicion of manslaughter. Authorities are investigating potential negligence on the part of the company, focusing on materials used in the building’s exterior walls that may not have met fire resistance standards, facilitating the rapid spread of the fire.
The fire, which originated on external scaffolding before engulfing multiple buildings, was exacerbated by windy conditions, making firefighting and rescue operations particularly arduous. Experts have highlighted the unusual spread of the fire, attributing it to potential building material deficiencies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences for the victims and their families, emphasizing the need to minimize casualties and losses. The tragic incident stands as the deadliest fire in Hong Kong in recent decades, recalling a similar tragedy in November 1996 that claimed 41 lives in Kowloon.