Hong Kong High-Rise Inferno: Death Toll Reaches 75, Hundreds Unaccounted For
A catastrophic inferno has engulfed a high-rise apartment complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district for a second day, pushing the death toll to a staggering 75, marking one of the city's deadliest modern blazes. As firefighters valiantly battle the flames and navigate the charred ruins, hundreds remain unaccounted for, sparking fears of an even higher casualty count.
The disaster unfolded Wednesday afternoon, believed to have originated from bamboo scaffolding and construction netting before rapidly spreading across seven of the Wang Fuk Court complex's eight buildings. The dense cluster, home to thousands, many of them elderly, became a death trap as fire resistance standards are now under intense scrutiny.
Heroic Rescue Efforts Amidst Chaos
Rescuers, armed with flashlights, are meticulously searching apartment by apartment in the smoke-filled, darkened towers. Thick smoke continues to billow from windows, a grim reminder of the inferno's power. Deputy Director of Fire Services, Wong Ka-wing, emphasized the extreme conditions, stating, "We are battling high temperatures and carefully going up floor by floor, thoroughly searching and aiming to rescue people as quickly as possible." Tragically, one firefighter is among the confirmed fatalities, and 70 others have sustained injuries. Approximately 900 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters overnight.
The human toll is immense. Resident Lawrence Lee anxiously awaited news of his wife, trapped in their apartment after corridors filled with smoke forced her back inside. "When the fire started, I told her on the phone to escape. But once she left the flat, the corridor and stairs were all filled with smoke and it was all dark, so she had no choice but to go back to the flat," he recounted from a shelter. Winter and Sandy Chung, residents who evacuated Wednesday, watched sparks fly and spent a sleepless night worried about their home.
Arrests and Suspected Negligence
The tragedy has quickly escalated into a criminal investigation. Police have arrested three men – two directors and an engineering consultant from a construction company – on suspicion of manslaughter. Authorities believe "those in charge of the construction company were grossly negligent." The Associated Press identified the company as Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, which was undertaking renovations at the complex. Police seized documents from their office, investigating claims that exterior wall materials failed to meet fire resistance standards and that highly flammable Styrofoam was found near elevator lobbies.
Fire safety expert Alex Webb described the incident as "quite shocking," noting that modern regulations typically aim to prevent fires from spreading between buildings. The widespread use of bamboo scaffolding, despite government plans to phase it out for public projects due to safety concerns, is also under review.
Official Response and Historical Context
Hong Kong leader John Lee acknowledged the loss of contact with 279 individuals early Thursday, though no updated figures on the missing were provided. Chinese President Xi Jinping extended his condolences and urged efforts to minimize further losses. This fire marks the deadliest in Hong Kong in decades, surpassing the 1996 Kowloon fire that killed 41. The community now grapples with immense loss and demands answers, as investigations continue into how such a preventable disaster could occur.