Hong kong: Hong Kong's Fire Department announced that search and rescue operations were anticipated to conclude early this morning following a devastating fire that engulfed a large apartment building, marking the city's deadliest blaze in nearly 80 years. The fire, which swept through the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in the northern Tai Po district on Wednesday, has resulted in at least 94 fatalities, with many residents still unaccounted for.
According to Thai News Agency, the fire has been mostly contained, but firefighters continue to face challenges due to the building's structure, which was undergoing renovations and covered in bamboo scaffolding and green netting. The eight-building development housed over 4,600 individuals, and the fire's rapid spread left many trapped and missing.
Deputy Director of the Fire and Rescue Department, Derek Chan, informed reporters that efforts were ongoing to access all seven buildings within the complex to ensure no additional injuries or fatalities occurred. The number of missing persons reached 279 by early Thursday, with recent reports indicating 25 unanswered calls to the fire department, three of which were made in the last few hours.
Rescue teams faced harsh conditions, including intense heat, thick smoke, and debris from collapsed scaffolding, as they worked to reach those trapped on the upper floors. Chan reported that the majority of victims were located in two buildings, while survivors were found in other parts of the development. The confirmed death toll, now at 94, marks the most lethal fire in Hong Kong since a 1948 warehouse blaze claimed 176 lives.
In response to the tragedy, police have arrested three employees of Prestige Construction on suspicion of manslaughter due to the use of unsafe materials. The detained individuals include two directors and an engineering consultant associated with the maintenance of the building. Authorities suspect gross negligence by the company's representatives contributed to the uncontrolled spread of the fire. During a raid on Prestige Construction's office, police confiscated bidding documents, a staff list, 14 computers, and three mobile phones as part of their investigation.