Survivors of a devastating apartment fire in Hong Kong have expressed fury after claiming fire alarms failed to sound during the initial outbreak, leaving residents with critically little time to evacuate. The blaze, which ripped through the Wang Fuk Court complex in the Tai Po district, has claimed at least 13 lives, with fears the death toll could rise further.
System Failures and Delayed Warnings
According to former district councillor Herman Yiu Kwan-ho, residents reported smelling smoke long before any alarm was triggered. He stated that those inside the building were only alerted to the danger when a security guard began frantically knocking on doors. This critical delay meant many were forced to flee for their lives at the last possible moment.
Chan Kwong-tak, 83, a resident, echoed these concerns, starkly noting, “If someone was sleeping then, they were done.” Mr Chan also revealed he had repeatedly raised concerns with the building's management about the quality of work on an external renovation project and about workers smoking on site, but claimed his grievances were never addressed.
Inferno Spreads on Scaffolding
The fire spread with terrifying speed, fuelled by bamboo scaffolding that encased the building complex as part of ongoing renovations. The flames quickly jumped to nearby blocks, including Wang Tai House and Wang Sun House, with loud explosions reported from the scene.
A 40-year-old resident, surnamed Cheung, said she had also witnessed construction workers smoking and questioned the effectiveness of fines that were supposedly issued. She believes this may have been the cause of the inferno.
Criticism of Emergency Response and a Hero's Death
As the fire raged for hours, some residents began to voice anger over the emergency response. Ms Cheung, after evacuating, gave a damning assessment: “It’s already like a chain of boats on fire, with no one putting out the flames – they’re just watching the buildings burn.” Other residents, like Miss Wong, questioned why more aggressive measures, such as water bombs, were not being deployed.
The tragedy was compounded by the death of a firefighter, Ho Wai-ho, 37, who lost his life in the line of duty. The nine-year veteran, stationed at Sha Tin Fire Station, lost contact with colleagues and was later found unconscious with severe facial burns. Despite immediate CPR and first aid, he was pronounced dead in hospital. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung expressed profound grief and offered his deepest condolences to the firefighter's family.
Firefighting efforts were severely hampered by falling debris and scaffolding, alongside extremely high temperatures within the building. Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of fire services, explained that these dangerous conditions made it difficult for the 767 firefighters and 400 police officers deployed to the scene to enter the structure and conduct rescue operations, a challenge that intensified after nightfall.
The Wang Fuk Court complex, home to more than 1,900 households, is part of a government-subsidised home ownership scheme and has been occupied since 1983. Officials have not yet been able to determine how many people may still be trapped inside the smouldering buildings. Evacuated residents, including elderly individuals using walking sticks and wheelchairs, have been moved to temporary shelters at local schools and community halls.
