The death toll from a massive fire at the Wang Fuk Court public housing estate in Tai Po has risen to 128, with about 200 people still unaccounted for, authorities said Friday. The blaze erupted on November 27, engulfing several residential towers and leaving the area in devastation.
Fire officials revealed that alarms in all eight buildings were not working, prompting the arrest of eight individuals connected to the building’s maintenance and renovation. Among those detained were directors, project managers, and subcontractors, joining three earlier arrests for alleged gross negligence.
The fire began on the lower floors of Wang Cheong House and quickly spread, fueled by scaffolding mesh and polystyrene panels on the building exteriors. Temperatures inside the towers reportedly exceeded 500°C (930°F), causing windows to shatter and flames to spread further.
Wang Fuk Court, home to over 4,000 residents, was undergoing renovations at the time, with bamboo scaffolding and protective mesh covering all eight towers. Authorities had conducted 16 inspections since last year, including one just days before the fire, and had issued warnings for improved fire safety measures.
The Hong Kong government has announced compensation for victims’ families, with HK$200,000 for each deceased person and HK$50,000 for affected households. Officials are also assisting foreign domestic helpers living in the estate.
A full investigation into how the fire spread is expected to take three to four weeks. Meanwhile, survivors remain in temporary shelters as search and rescue efforts continue.
