Hong Kong is mourning the deaths of at least 128 people after a massive fire engulfed the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex, with officials warning the toll may rise as 150 residents remain missing. Authorities have called it the city’s worst blaze in nearly eight decades, prompting deep sorrow and urgent questions about safety failures.
Investigators have arrested 11 individuals linked to the renovation project, focusing on suspected corruption and the use of unsafe materials. Rescue operations ended on Friday, yet police continue combing the charred blocks, which were wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and flammable insulation that fueled the rapid spread of the fire on Wednesday afternoon.
Read more : Hong Kong Fire Leaves 128 Dead, Search for Victims Continues
Moreover, officials said fire alarms in the complex, which houses more than 4,600 people, had not been functioning correctly. City leaders, dressed in black, observed a three-minute silence as flags were lowered to half-staff. Condolence books have been set up across Hong Kong, allowing residents to pay tribute to the victims and show solidarity with grieving families.
The search continues under challenging conditions, with officers navigating collapsed scaffolding, burned interiors and dangerously high temperatures. Although no additional bodies were found on Saturday, three cats and a turtle were rescued from the ruins. Authorities expect recovery operations to take up to four weeks as they move toward heavily damaged blocks.
Read more : Hong Kong tower fire death toll climbs to 128 –
Families have gathered near the site, placing hundreds of bouquets and desperately searching for missing loved ones. The tragedy has also affected domestic workers from Indonesia and the Philippines, with several confirmed dead or missing. Survivors described terrifying moments, including a Filipina worker who protected a three-month-old baby while trapped in smoke for hours.
The blaze, the deadliest since 1948, has intensified scrutiny of renovation practices and construction oversight. Hong Kong’s Buildings Department suspended 28 projects managed by the contractor Prestige Construction, whose senior staff are accused of using flammable materials that blocked escape routes. Activists are calling for an independent inquiry, though authorities have warned against using the disaster for public dissent.