Fire officials in Hong Kong are close to completing search and rescue operations following a devastating blaze at a highrise apartment complex that tragically claimed the lives of at least 94 individuals. The Fire Services Department of Hong Kong reported that the fire, one of the deadliest in the city’s recent history, also left over 70 people injured, including 11 firefighters.
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 most of the fire has been contained, thick smoke continues to emanate from certain windows as firefighters diligently work on a few remaining apartments.
Authorities are striving to ensure the safety of all residents by thoroughly checking each unit in the seven affected towers. They anticipate fully extinguishing the blaze in the next few hours. Derek Armstrong Chan, the deputy director of the Fire Services Department, emphasized the completion of the firefighting operation and the ongoing search-and-rescue efforts to prevent any potential flare-ups.
As the situation unfolds, concerns persist about the number of missing or trapped individuals. Hong Kong Leader John Lee revealed that contact had been lost with 279 people, although no updates were provided during a subsequent news conference regarding the status of those unaccounted for or the potential presence of individuals still inside the ravaged buildings.
Efforts to control the flames began on Wednesday afternoon, believed to have originated in bamboo scaffolding and construction netting before spreading across seven of the eight buildings within the complex. By Thursday afternoon, fires in four buildings had been successfully extinguished, with the remaining structures brought under control.
Rescue teams, facing challenging conditions and high temperatures, are meticulously navigating through the buildings to locate and aid any remaining individuals. Sadly, one firefighter was among the casualties, and approximately 900 people were evacuated to temporary shelters.
Authorities have taken swift action, arresting three individuals associated with a construction company on suspicion of manslaughter. Authorities suspect that the company’s negligence may have contributed to the fire’s rapid spread. Investigations are ongoing, with a focus on materials on the building’s exterior walls that may not have met fire resistance standards.
The fire, which started externally and quickly engulfed the complex, has raised concerns about fire safety regulations and the materials utilized in the construction. Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended condolences to the victims’ families and emphasized the need to minimize further casualties and losses in the aftermath of this tragic incident, which stands as one of the deadliest fires in Hong Kong in recent memory.