The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in nearly 80 years has risen to 128, with around 200 people still missing. The blaze struck the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po, northern Hong Kong, on Wednesday afternoon.
The complex consists of eight 32-storey towers and housed over 4,600 residents. The building was under renovation, wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh. Hong Kong Security Chief Chris Tang said only 39 of the 128 deceased had been identified so far. He added that fire alarms in the buildings were not functioning properly.
Rescue operations have concluded, with at least 79 people injured, including 12 firefighters. Authorities said their next priority is to cool the building and collect evidence for a detailed investigation.
Police have arrested three construction company officials on suspicion of manslaughter. Unsafe materials, including flammable foam boards blocking windows, are believed to have contributed to the fire. Residents had previously raised concerns about fire hazards due to ongoing renovation works, but authorities had assured them of “relatively low fire risks.”
Families are now facing the grim task of identifying their loved ones. Many residents relied on photographs of the deceased taken by rescue workers. Mirra Wong, whose father is missing, described the emotional toll of searching for him amid the chaos.
Dozens of migrant domestic workers were also caught in the blaze. According to the Philippines’ migrant women refuge association, 19 domestic workers remain missing. Indonesia confirmed two of its nationals died in the fire. Hong Kong hosts around 368,000 domestic workers, mostly women from low-income Asian countries.
The fire in Hong Kong is the deadliest since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse fire. Comparisons have been drawn to London’s 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people due to flammable cladding and safety failings.
Police raided Prestige Construction, the company responsible for maintenance at Wang Fuk Court, seizing documents, computers, and mobile phones. Officials cited gross negligence as a factor in the fire’s spread.
In response, Hong Kong leader John Lee announced a HK$300 million ($39 million) relief fund for affected residents. Volunteers and evacuees set up temporary shelters outside nearby malls, highlighting the immediate humanitarian needs.
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The tragedy has raised concerns about building safety in densely populated Hong Kong and may amplify public discontent amid high housing costs and scrutiny of government oversight.
