A deadly fire in Hong Kong's housing complex killed at least 128, with 279 unaccounted for. Eight arrests were made over the renovation's role. Rescue efforts continue amid high temperatures and obstacles.
A major fire tore through multiple high-rise towers at a housing complex in Hong Kong on Wednesday, killing dozens of people, the city's chief executive, John Lee, said, with 279 people still unaccounted for. According to Reuters, three individuals aged 52 to 68 have been arrested under suspicion of manslaughter.
The apartment complex, made up of eight towering 31-story buildings in the Tai Po district which is located in close proximity to Hong Kong's border with mainland China was constructed back in the 1980s and has been going through a significant renovation. It boasts nearly 2,000 apartments and is home to around 4,800 residents.
According to Reuters, Hong Kong authorities reported that by early morning local time, the fire affecting four residential buildings in the complex was brought under control. The footage showed massive flames and thick plumes of dark smoke billowing from several towers in the complex, which had been operational since 1983 and comprised nearly 2,000 residential units across eight buildings.
Derek Armstrong Chan, the deputy director of Fire Service operations, shared with The Associated Press that Styrofoam boards, which "ignite easily when exposed to heat," were discovered leaning against windows in a building within the complex that remained untouched by the fire. He also mentioned that falling debris and scaffolding were hindering rescue efforts. "The temperature inside the buildings is extremely high," he explained. "It's challenging for us to get inside and go upstairs to carry out firefighting and rescue operations."
On Friday, Hong Kong firefighters uncovered dozens more bodies during a thorough search of a high-rise complex, going apartment by apartment. 8 more people have been arrested who were involved in the tower's renovation. Andy Yeung, the director of Hong Kong Fire Services, reported that some fire alarms in the building, which was home to many elderly residents, failed to sound when they were tested. However, he didn’t specify how many alarms were malfunctioning or if others were working properly. The death toll in one of the city’s deadliest blazes rose to 128, and many remain unaccounted for.
The government announced that all official flags in the city will be lowered to half-staff in mourning from Saturday to Monday. The city’s leader, John Lee, led a three-minute silence on Saturday from the government headquarters.
Fear lingers as more bodies are yet to be found. The authorities probing the situation have speculated that 200 bodies remain unaccounted for. More than 2,300 firefighters and medical personnel were involved in the operation, and 12 firefighters were among the 79 people injured. One firefighter was also killed in the rescue effort. Among the identified bodies were those of two Indonesian migrant workers, confirmed by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry this Thursday.
The recent fire in Hong Kong has been marked as the deadliest in decades. To put things in perspective, back in 1996, a fire in a commercial building in Kowloon tragically claimed the lives of 41 people. Even further back, a warehouse fire in 1948 resulted in 176 fatalities, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
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