Hong Kong on Saturday entered a period of deep mourning as the confirmed death toll from the devastating high-rise fire climbed to 128, with authorities warning that the number is expected to rise. Nearly 200 residents of the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex remain unaccounted for, days after the city’s worst blaze in nearly eight decades.
Officials have so far detained 11 individuals as part of a widening investigation that now includes allegations of corruption and the use of unsafe construction materials during ongoing renovations at the Tai Po estate, near the border with mainland China.
Rescue operations formally ended on Friday, but police teams continue to sweep the charred towers, saying more remains may be discovered as investigators search through the collapsed interiors and scorched scaffolding. The fire, which erupted on Wednesday afternoon, spread rapidly through seven of the complex’s eight 32-storey blocks. The buildings were enveloped in bamboo scaffolding, green protective mesh, and foam insulation at the time—conditions that likely fueled the inferno.
Search for victims intensifies
Authorities revealed that fire alarms at the estate were malfunctioning, raising further questions about building oversight. On Saturday morning, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and senior officials gathered outside government headquarters, all dressed in black, to observe a three-minute silence. Flags across the city were lowered to half-mast, and condolence books were placed at 18 locations for the public to offer prayers and messages.
Britain’s King Charles expressed his sorrow, calling it an “appalling tragedy” and extending condolences to those grieving or still awaiting news of missing loved ones.
Inside the ruined towers, specialist officers from the disaster victim identification unit moved through debris—climbing over collapsed bamboo poles and navigating pools of water left by firefighters who worked for days to cool the structure. Outside, relatives laid flowers while others faced the painful task of reviewing photos of the deceased taken by rescue teams. As of Friday, only 39 of the 128 confirmed victims had been identified.
Aid efforts gather momentum
The Hong Kong government has announced a HK$300 million (US$40 million) relief fund to support displaced residents, while several major Chinese listed companies have pledged donations. Hundreds of volunteers have also mobilised, setting up a large support base across from the complex to distribute food, clothing, and essential supplies. Working in shifts around the clock, they sorted items ranging from diapers to packaged meals and helped transport relief goods throughout the district.
Among those affected were many of Hong Kong’s 368,000 migrant domestic workers, predominantly women from Indonesia and the Philippines who often live in cramped employer-provided accommodation. Indonesia has confirmed six of its citizens among the dead, while the Philippines reported one critically injured, one missing, and 28 whose whereabouts remain uncertain.
Deadliest fire since 1948
This incident marks Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze since 1948, when a warehouse fire claimed 176 lives. The tragedy has drawn parallels to London’s Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017, where 72 people died, particularly due to concerns over the flammability of construction materials.
Labour Department records show that Wang Fuk Court residents had repeatedly raised alarms last year about fire risks associated with the renovation works. Despite this, authorities assured them the estate posed “relatively low fire risks”. Residents had specifically warned about the green mesh covering the bamboo scaffolding, fearing it could easily ignite—concerns now central to the investigation.
On Friday, Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog detained eight people, including an engineering consultant, a scaffolding subcontractor and an intermediary. Earlier arrests included two directors of Prestige Construction and another engineering consultant from the firm, which had been contracted to carry out maintenance on the complex for over a year. They face charges of manslaughter related to the alleged use of unsafe, flammable materials such as foam boards that obstructed windows. The company has not responded to repeated calls for comment.
Calls for accountability grow
While public outrage remains subdued—far from the mass protests that swept the city in 2019—there are signs of growing frustration. Volunteers near the estate distributed leaflets demanding better resettlement plans, stricter oversight of construction safety, and an independent inquiry into the blaze.
Analysts warn that as investigations widen, scrutiny is likely to spread beyond contractors to include government regulators. Historically, Hong Kong has established open, judge-led inquiries following major disasters, and many expect similar action in the coming weeks as pressure mounts for transparency and accountability.
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