Hong Kong tower blocks fire death toll rises to 128

At least 128 people died in the fire that engulfed many high-rise buildings in Hong Kong.

Another 79 people were injured and dozens remain missing in the city’s deadliest fire in more than 70 years in the northern suburb of Tai Po.

When the fire started, renovation work was being done on the tower blocks. The cause of the fire remains unclear, but authorities said Friday that Styrofoam placed outside the windows made it easier for the fire to spread quickly.

Three people who oversaw the renovations were arrested on charges of manslaughter and authorities launched a corruption investigation.

More than 2,311 firefighters were deployed to control the fire, which spread to seven of Wang Fuk Court’s eight apartment blocks.

Firefighting operations have now been stopped. The fire was completely extinguished at 10:18 local time (02:18 GMT) on Friday, the fire service said at a press conference.

It was also stated that the identities of 89 bodies have not yet been determined and 16 bodies remained inside the buildings.

Police will begin entering the Wang Fuk Court premises on Friday to begin gathering evidence, and an investigation will take place in the next three to four weeks, authorities said.

Meanwhile, crowds are gathering at a nearby community hall open to families searching for missing loved ones. Relatives are asked to assist in the identification process by bringing family photographs.

The Hong Kong government also established shelters and support centers for displaced residents. Volunteer groups are packing and organizing supplies, including clothing and hygiene products, for those affected.

The fire started at 14:51 local time (06:51 GMT) on Wednesday and was upgraded to the most serious category by fire officials as of 18:22 local time.

The fire department said the fire started at a lower level before moving upwards, reaching temperatures of 500C (932F).

As a result, it was stated that the fire flared up again in some places after it was extinguished.

A former resident who moved out earlier this year and gave only his surname told the BBC: “There was nothing we could do. Together we watched our houses slowly burn.”

Due to the presence of flammable netting and other materials outside the buildings, the fire quickly spread to separate blocks.

It was stated that 37-year-old firefighter Ho Wai-ho was among the dead. He was found unconscious at the scene on Wednesday, about 30 minutes after contact with him was lost.

Officials said 12 other firefighters were injured.

A migrant aid organization said two Indonesian citizens working in the buildings also died in the fire. Indonesian and Filipino workers are among those still unnamed.

Indonesian worker Fita was in the building with her employer when she heard the fire siren. She described the situation as scary and confusing but added that she felt “so grateful” to be safe.

“But I’m worried about friends I know… We usually talk but I haven’t met them [since the fire]” he told the Reuters news agency.

Many people in shelters do not want to talk to the media while they are under the influence of trauma.

Shock quickly gave way to anger as questions grew about who was to blame for the fire in Hong Kong.

Some citizens said that they did not hear the fire alarm when the fire broke out. The Hong Kong fire department found that fire alarms in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

Meanwhile, one resident told the BBC that some alarms had been turned off by construction workers.

Residents’ previous complaints about high renovation fees and whether the materials used comply with fire safety regulations have also resurfaced and are being widely circulated online.

A police spokesman said: “We have reason to believe that those responsible at the company acted with gross negligence which led to this accident, causing the fire to spread uncontrollably and causing major casualties.”

Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and provided 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 people, according to the 2021 government census.

It is estimated that approximately 40% of residents are at least 65 years old. Some have been living in subsidized public housing since it was built.

Hong Kong’s deadliest recorded fire killed 176 people in 1948 and was caused by an explosion on the ground floor of a five-storey warehouse.

Additional reporting by Martin Yip and Gemini Cheng in Hong Kong