Death toll hits 146 in Hong Kong’s deadliest apartment fire in decades
The blaze, Hong Kong's deadliest in more than 75 years, engulfed seven of the complex's residential towers over two days before firefighters finally extinguished it on Friday.
The major Hong Kong fire that erupted on Wednesday night has been extinguished, with the death toll now climbing to 128 and around 200 people still missing.
Hong Kong Security Chief Chris Tang Friday confirmed that the rescue efforts at the residential development have now concluded.
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Announcing an end to the days-long dousing operation by around 800 firefighters, the fire department said that the flames were “largely extinguished” as of 10:18 am (02:18 GMT) on Friday.
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Among the 128 deaths, the authorities have only been able to identify 39 bodies so far, reported Hong Kong Free Press.
The blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po is being considered the deadliest blaze Hong Kong has witnessed in decades.
The previous major fire tragedy had occurred in 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse blaze in Hong Kong.
Also Read: Hong Kong fire: How bamboo scaffolding fuelled the deadly high-rise blaze in Tai Po
Announcing an end to the days-long dousing operation by around 800 firefighters, the fire department said that the flames were “largely extinguished” as of 10:18 am (02:18 GMT) on Friday.
So far, the police have apprehended three construction company officials on suspicion of manslaughter for using unsafe materials, including flammable foam boards blocking windows.
“In total, 11 firefighters were injured during the rescue operation, according to the Fire Services Department (FSD). One firefighter, 37-year-old Ho Wai-ho, was killed in the blaze,” HKFP reported.
What was the cause of the Hong Kong fire?
The use of bamboo scaffolding in the construction work of the building was being touted as the reason for the massive fire. As per HKFP, the use of netting to cover the scaffolding met safety standards, but the “Styrofoam boards found outside the buildings” windows were highly flammable,” as per HKFP.
The blaze that broke out on Wednesday afternoon occurred in seven towers. Fire in three towers was doused by Wednesday night, but the blaze prevailed in another four towers the next day.
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