Death Toll Reaches 146 in Hong Kong’s Devastating Apartment Fire

The tragic fire at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Hong Kong has claimed at least 146 lives, as recovery efforts continue. Investigators discovered additional bodies in the charred remains of the buildings, marking this incident as one of the deadliest in the city’s history. The blaze, which ignited on March 1, 2024, has left the community in mourning and raised urgent questions about fire safety regulations.

Search and recovery operations are being led by the Hong Kong police’s Disaster Victim Identification Unit, which is meticulously combing through the eight-building complex. Officer Cheng Ka-chun reported that bodies have been found both in apartment units and on roofs. He noted the challenges faced by the team: “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.”

So far, the team has examined four of the seven blocks, with the latest searches yielding another 30 bodies. Police spokesperson Tsang Shuk-yin confirmed that approximately 100 individuals remain unaccounted for, while 79 others have sustained injuries.

At the site of the tragedy, mourners have gathered to pay their respects, leaving flowers and handwritten notes. Local resident Lian Shuzheng expressed the sentiment felt by many: “This really serves as a wake-up call for everyone, especially with these super high-rise buildings.” Donations have also poured in to assist those who lost everything in the fire, which was fully extinguished by March 3, 2024.

Authorities are investigating potential violations of fire codes, particularly concerning the extensive use of foam panels to cover windows during renovations. The Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, responsible for the renovation work, is facing scrutiny. Following the incident, Hong Kong officials announced the immediate suspension of 28 construction projects linked to the contractor for safety audits. The government stated, “The five-alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court exposed serious deficiencies in site safety management.”

In the aftermath of the fire, three individuals associated with the construction firm were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. They were subsequently released on bail, only to be rearrested by Hong Kong’s anti-corruption authorities, who have detained an additional eight suspects, including subcontractors and project managers.

The apartment complex, built in the 1980s, housed nearly 2,000 apartments and over 4,600 residents. Many survivors are currently residing in temporary shelters or hotels as officials work on long-term accommodation solutions. Civil servant Jeffery Chan lamented the devastation: “As a Hong Konger, seeing people lose their families and everything in just one night is unbearable.”

Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire began on the lower-level scaffolding net of one building and spread rapidly due to flammable materials. Chris Tang, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, noted that strong winds aided the flames in jumping between buildings. Fire alarms in some units reportedly failed to activate during the incident, raising further concerns about safety measures in the complex.

The victims include seven Indonesian migrant workers and a Filipina domestic helper, with several dozen still unaccounted for. The Indonesian Foreign Ministry confirmed the loss of its nationals, while the Philippines Consulate General in Hong Kong reported the death of one of its citizens, with 12 others missing.

In a show of solidarity, hundreds of Filipinos gathered in central Hong Kong, praying and singing hymns in memory of those lost in the fire. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Emergency Management in Beijing announced a nationwide inspection of high-rise buildings to identify and rectify fire hazards.

The Wang Fuk Court fire, the worst in Hong Kong since a warehouse blaze in 1948 that killed 176 people, has ignited discussions about fire safety in high-rise buildings. The deadliest fire in the city’s history remains the 1918 Race Course Fire, which resulted in over 600 fatalities. As the community grapples with the aftermath, the need for reform in building safety standards has never been clearer.