Hong Kong firefighters controlled a massive fire in an apartment complex on Thursday that resulted in at least 65 deaths and nearly 300 people reported missing. Police are investigating a construction firm that they claim was “grossly negligent” and used unsafe materials, which may have caused the fire. The fire broke out in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex located in Tai Po, and rescuers were confronted with extreme heat and thick smoke while searching for residents believed to be trapped on the upper floors.
As of late Thursday, the Hospital Authority confirmed that 65 people had died and 70 were injured. In response to this devastating incident, Hong Kong’s leader John Lee announced a HK$300 million ($38.6 million) fund to assist residents. Chinese companies and groups have also pledged donations for the victims, including well-known businesses like Xiaomi, Xpeng, Geely, and the charity foundation established by Alibaba’s founder Jack Ma.
The complex involved consists of eight blocks with 2,000 apartments housing over 4,600 people, amidst a background of affordable housing shortages in the city. The apartments were undergoing renovations and were covered with bamboo scaffolding and green mesh. A distressed woman was seen searching for her daughter, sharing that they lacked water to help save their building.
Police are investigating the cause of the fire and conducted a raid on the building maintenance company responsible, Prestige Construction and Engineering. During this raid, they seized various documents and electronic devices. Police believe that negligence from the company’s responsible parties led to the uncontrollable spread of the fire, resulting in significant casualties. Consequently, two directors and an engineering consultant from Prestige Construction have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
Concerns about fire safety were raised when police discovered that materials used on the building may not meet fire standards. In light of the incident, the city’s development bureau has discussed switching to metal scaffolding for future projects.
China’s President Xi Jinping called for efforts to extinguish the fire and minimize losses, showing the incident’s significance to the leadership of the Hong Kong government and the Communist Party. The tragedy intensified existing discontent regarding high property prices in Hong Kong, potentially fueling resentment towards authorities. The fire drew comparisons to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, highlighting longstanding safety issues in high-density housing. This complex, built in 1983, was part of a subsidized home ownership scheme for middle-income families in one of the world’s most densely populated cities.
With information from Reuters