The death toll from a devastating inferno at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has surged to at least 94, according to local authorities. The Hong Kong Fire Services Department reported on Wednesday that while the massive blaze is now almost entirely under control, the scale of the tragedy continues to unfold as search and rescue teams comb through the charred remains of the buildings. There are grave concerns that the number of fatalities could rise further as several residents remain unaccounted for.
Among the deceased is a 37-year-old firefighter who lost his life whilst attempting to rescue trapped residents from the upper floors of the complex. The department confirmed that a total of 76 people have been injured in the incident, including 11 firemen who sustained various degrees of burns and smoke inhalation. Many of the injured are currently being treated in intensive care units across the city. Rescue workers are facing immense challenges due to the structural instability of the affected blocks, utilising specialised equipment and thermal imaging to locate any potential survivors amidst the debris.
Wang Fuk Court is a high-density residential complex comprising eight massive blocks with approximately 2,000 individual flats. It is home to more than 4,600 residents, making the evacuation process during the peak of the fire extremely chaotic. Urban planning experts and residents have raised urgent questions regarding the fire safety protocols in such densely populated public housing estates. Preliminary reports suggest that the fire spread with alarming speed through the interconnected corridors, trapping many people inside their homes.
In response to the crisis, the local government has established eight emergency shelters, which are currently providing refuge to approximately 900 displaced residents. Outside these centres, heartbreaking scenes have been witnessed as family members wait desperately for news of their missing relatives. Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed his profound condolences to the victims and their families, urging local authorities to provide comprehensive support and medical assistance. A high-level commission of inquiry has been launched to determine the exact cause of the fire and to evaluate whether there were any lapses in safety regulations. The area remains cordoned off as the investigation and recovery efforts continue.
GLIVE/TSN