Hong Kong's grassroots community groups have mobilised to provide aid to survivors of the Wang Fuk Court fire, which has killed at least 128 people, with hundreds still missing. Restaurants, churches and gyms in the Tai Po area have been converted into temporary shelters offering clothes, food and information.
The volunteer response has drawn comparisons to the support networks that emerged during the 2014 and 2019 pro-democracy protests. Michael Mo, a former district councillor now living in the UK, said: 'Since the two movements in 2014 and 2019, citizen-led supplies mobilisation have become part of our muscle memory.'
A crowd-sourced web app allows residents to mark themselves as safe or report missing persons, while an interactive map shows supply stations in Tai Po. Volunteer shifts are coordinated via another platform. Fundraising efforts include the government's 'Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po', which has received an initial HKD$300m (£29.1m) from the government.
On Telegram, channels have been set up for specific duties such as transport and supply delivery, with thousands of members. The Hong Kong Red Cross has appealed for blood donations, stating its blood banks have eight to ten days' supply. A group of lawyers is offering pro bono legal advice on tenancy, employment and other issues arising from the blaze.
Questions are being raised about how the fire spread so quickly across seven tower blocks. Residents had complained about fire hazards related to bamboo scaffolding and green netting, and authorities have highlighted the use of flammable Styrofoam in elevator window coverings. No fire alarms sounded in any of the towers, according to fire services head Andy Yeung. Three people from contractor Prestige have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter; the company had been convicted of two safety offences in 2023 before winning the renovation contract.
