The death toll from a catastrophic high-rise apartment fire in Hong Kong has risen to at least 159, authorities confirmed, as police arrested six individuals suspected of deactivating crucial fire alarms. The youngest victim was a one-year-old infant, while the oldest was 97 years old.
Search Continues Amidst Devastation
Investigators have completed searching seven of the eight residential towers at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, which was engulfed in flames last Wednesday. The blaze, which took until Friday to fully extinguish, has left approximately 30 people unaccounted for. Commissioner of Police Joe Chow stated that work continues, with teams scouring piles of fallen bamboo scaffolding for any remaining victims.
The complex was undergoing a lengthy renovation, shrouded in extensive bamboo scaffolding. Authorities confirmed that substandard netting on the scaffolding and foam boards on windows contributed to the fire's rapid spread.
Arrests and Ongoing Investigations
Police and the city's anti-corruption body have now arrested 15 people as part of a probe into corruption and negligence linked to the renovation work. The six individuals arrested on Wednesday are suspected of making false representations to the fire services department after allegedly deactivating alarms during maintenance.
Residents and officials have reported that some fire alarms in the buildings failed to sound when the fire broke out. The initial cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Victims and Memorial
Among the 159 confirmed fatalities, 19 bodies are yet to be identified. The victims include:
- Ten migrant domestic helpers – nine from Indonesia and one from the Philippines.
- A firefighter who lost his life during rescue operations.
Members of the public have been laying flowers at a memorial site to honour those who perished in one of Hong Kong's deadliest residential fires.
