Death toll from Hong Kong high-rise fire increases to 159; 6 individuals arrested for malfunctioning fire alarms.
The tragic high-rise apartment fire in Hong Kong has claimed 159 lives, with authorities confirming the figure on Wednesday, amid ongoing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the disaster. Police have taken six individuals into custody on suspicion of disabling fire alarms during maintenance work at the Wang Fuk Court complex. The fatalities include victims ranging from a 1-year-old child to a 97-year-old senior citizen.
The catastrophic fire erupted in the northern suburban district of Tai Po about a week ago and required more than 40 hours for firefighters to fully extinguish. Authorities have completed searches for bodies in seven of the eight high-rise towers affected by the fire, though approximately 30 individuals remain unaccounted for. As the situation develops, police officials have noted the discovery of what they believe to be human bones in various apartments and have initiated DNA tests to confirm identities. Moreover, investigations will continue through debris extensively including fallen bamboo scaffolding that may conceal additional remains.
Wang Fuk Court, the site of the incident, was undergoing a lengthy renovation project, and many structures were enveloped in bamboo scaffolding and green netting at the time of the fire. Authorities are conducting a thorough inquiry into alleged corruption and negligence related to the renovations. In conjunction with the six arrests related to fire alarm deactivation, a broader investigation has already led to the detention of 15 people, including construction company directors.
Preliminary findings indicate that some fire alarms did not activate when the fire broke out, complicating evacuation efforts. Officials have raised concerns about the quality of materials used in the renovation, pointing specifically to substandard nylon netting on scaffoldings and foam board installations that may have exacerbated the fire’s rapid spread across multiple buildings.
As a result of these findings, Hong Kong’s government has mandated the removal of all external scaffolding nets from potentially hundreds of buildings undergoing major renovations across the city. All materials will require thorough testing before future installations are permitted to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations. Investigators are also scrutinizing firms believed to have falsified scaffolding inspection reports, including the Binzhou Inspection and Testing Center in China.
The initial cause of the fire is still being investigated, while the city mourns the loss of lives, including those of ten migrant domestic workers from Indonesia and the Philippines and one firefighter. The implications of this tragedy resonate profoundly throughout Hong Kong, highlighting critical concerns surrounding building safety and regulatory compliance in construction practices.
