A devastating fire that tore through a Hong Kong housing estate has claimed 55 lives, marking the financial hub's most deadly blaze in decades. Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for as firefighters continue to battle the inferno that engulfed the Wang Fuk Court estate in the northern Tai Po district.
Arrests and Investigation Underway
Hong Kong police confirmed the arrest of three men on Thursday in connection with the disaster. Authorities suspect they "acted with gross negligence" by leaving flammable foam packaging at the site during maintenance work, causing the fire to spread rapidly beyond control.
Officers conducted searches in a separate neighbourhood on Thursday morning, removing documents in binders related to the investigation. The fire service received the first emergency call at 2.51pm local time (06.51 GMT) on Wednesday.
Community Response and Rescue Efforts
The spontaneous efforts of Hong Kong residents have drawn people from across the city to organise aid for displaced residents and firefighters. Stone Ngai, 38, one of the organisers of an impromptu aid station, told AFP: "It's truly touching. The spirit of Hong Kong people is that when one is in trouble, everyone lends support... It shows that Hong Kong people are full of love."
Firefighters faced immense challenges throughout the operation. Derek Armstrong Chan, the deputy director of fire service operations, stated: "The temperature at the scene is very high and there are some floors where we have been unable to reach people who requested help, but we will keep trying."
The blaze rapidly escalated, being upgraded to a No. 4 alarm at 3.34pm before reaching No. 5 - the highest level of severity - at 6.22pm. Strong winds fanned the flames, causing the fire to spread to seven of the complex's eight residential blocks.
Victims and Aftermath
Among the fatalities was a 37-year-old firefighter who had served for nine years. He was found with facial burns half an hour after losing contact with colleagues. The victims include 51 people who died at the scene and four who later died in hospital.
Current medical statistics show 61 people receiving hospital treatment, with 15 in critical condition, 27 in serious condition, and 19 stable. Two of the deceased were Indonesian migrant domestic workers.
Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, expressed being "deeply saddened" by the tragedy and announced that authorities will immediately inspect all housing estates undergoing major works. Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed condolences to the victims, including the firefighter who died in the line of duty.
The disaster has highlighted ongoing safety concerns in one of the world's most densely populated cities, where bamboo scaffolding remains widely used in construction despite government plans to phase it out from public projects.
