The death toll in the fire that swept through Hong Kong's residential buildings has risen to 128. Several more bodies were found during a search operation on Friday, raising the death toll. Firefighters are now in the final stages of the search, which will conclude after that. Firefighters are focusing on the buildings that received the most calls but were unable to reach them.
The death toll may rise further.
Hong Kong's Security Secretary, Chris Tang, told the media that bodies are being recovered from the burned buildings, and the death toll may rise further. The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon in seven of the eight buildings in the Wang Fuk Court complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po area. Bamboo scaffolding used for reconstruction work contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, which began in one building and engulfed the other seven. More than 1,000 firefighters brought the fire under control within 24 hours. Smoke is still visible from the buildings two days after the accident.
Three accused arrested for gross negligence
The complex where the fire broke out contains approximately 2,000 flats, housing approximately 4,800 people. More than 70 people were injured in the accident, including 11 firefighters. Another 900 people are living in temporary shelters. The two buildings where the fire first broke out suffered the most damage. Hong Kong police have arrested three people, including the directors of a construction company, for gross negligence.
Learning from this fire, Hong Kong authorities have decided to immediately inspect housing estates where reconstruction work is underway to ensure that scaffolding and construction safety standards are not violated. Wednesday's fire in residential buildings is one of the worst fires in Hong Kong's history. According to Chinese media, a previous fire at a commercial building in Kowloon killed 41 people in 1996. In 1948, a warehouse fire killed 176 people.
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