Hong Kong firefighters made grim discoveries on Friday during a meticulous search of a high-rise complex ravaged by a massive fire that consumed seven buildings. The death toll from one of the deadliest blazes in the city climbed to 128, with many individuals still unaccounted for.
According to Andy Yeung, the director of Hong Kong Fire Services, some fire alarms in the complex, which predominantly housed elderly residents, failed to activate during testing. The blaze swiftly spread from one building to another, fueled by bamboo scaffolding wrapped in netting and foam panels that had been installed by a construction company.
Authorities took into custody an additional eight individuals involved in the renovation of the towers, bringing the total number of arrests to 11. Those arrested, aged between 40 and 63, included scaffolding subcontractors, directors of an engineering consultant company, and project managers overseeing the renovation.
Efforts by first responders were focused on apartments from which distress calls were received during the inferno, but many were inaccessible while the fire raged uncontrollably. Derek Armstrong Chan, a deputy director of Hong Kong Fire Services, stated that it took approximately 24 hours for firefighters to contain the blaze, which was fully extinguished by Friday morning.
Smoke continued to seep from the charred remains of the buildings two days after the fire commenced, with nearly 200 individuals still missing, including 89 unidentified bodies. Secretary for Security Chris Tang disclosed that over 2,300 firefighters and medical personnel participated in the operation, with 12 firefighters among the 79 injured individuals. The fire also claimed the life of one firefighter.
The apartment complex, located in the Tai Po district, housed a large number of elderly residents and was undergoing extensive renovations. The tragic incident, which saw the rapid spread of the fire, prompted the lowering of official flags in the city as a mark of mourning.
As investigations continue, authorities suspect that the fire was exacerbated by materials on the building’s exterior walls that did not meet fire safety standards. Immediate inspections of similar housing complexes undergoing renovations have been planned to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
The deadly blaze, the worst in decades for Hong Kong, serves as a stark reminder of the importance of stringent safety measures in high-rise buildings undergoing renovations.
