One week after the catastrophic fire that devastated Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court residential complex, authorities warn that many victims may remain permanently “missing,” as some bodies were burned beyond recognition.
Police continue examining the seven charred buildings where residents’ remains were discovered in stairwells and on rooftops locations indicating that many were trapped while attempting to escape. Over 40 people are still unaccounted for.
Assistant Police Commissioner Tsang Shuk-yin shared an emotional update: “Some bodies were completely incinerated. We may not be able to recover all missing persons.”
Investigators reported that the green mesh covering the bamboo scaffolding failed to meet fire safety standards. According to Secretary Eric Chan, contractors used substandard materials in areas difficult for inspectors to access.
Additionally, flammable foam insulation intensified the blaze, while fire alarm systems malfunctioned, severely hindering evacuation.
Images shared by authorities show officers in protective gear navigating rooms with walls blackened by smoke and furniture reduced to ash, wading through water left from firefighting efforts.
Thousands gathered to mourn the dead, forming a line stretching over one kilometer along a canal near the disaster site. Among the victims were at least nine Indonesian domestic workers and one Filipino worker.
Memorial events are also planned this week in Tokyo, London, and Taipei.
Officials say the buildings currently under inspection suffered the most severe damage, and the search may take weeks. More than 4,000 residents lived in the affected blocks, according to census data.
Over 1,100 survivors have been relocated from temporary shelters to short-term housing, while 680 others are staying in dormitories and hotels. The government is providing 10,000 HKD in emergency aid per household and fast-tracking replacement IDs, passports, and marriage certificates.
Despite the scale of the tragedy, residents had raised safety concerns as early as 2024, particularly about the scaffolding mesh’s flammability. Authorities last year told them their risk level was “relatively low,” a statement now drawing scrutiny.
The fire is Hong Kong’s deadliest disaster since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse fire.
Sources: K14
You must be logged in to post a comment.