Introduction to the Tragedy
Deadly Hong Kong Fire Raises Questions
Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has raised questions about corruption and negligence in the renovations of the apartment complex where at least 128 people died.
The Incident
An intense fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court complex in Hong Kong’s northern suburbs Wednesday afternoon, with flames covering seven of the eight towers. The complex was home to about 4,800 residents, some of whom had raised safety concerns about the renovations more than a year before the fire.
Arrests and Investigation
Police on Wednesday arrested three men from a construction company on suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence. They were released on bail but then rearrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the authority said Saturday night, pointing to their leadership role in the renovations. ICAC had also previously arrested seven men and one woman associated with the project.
Construction Company Involved
Police have not identified the company where the suspects worked, but documents posted to the homeowners association’s website showed that the Prestige Construction & Engineering Co. was in charge of renovations. Police have seized boxes of documents from the company, where phones rang unanswered Thursday.
Materials Used in Renovation
Officials also said they were investigating the materials used — the netting on the scaffolding and the foam panels covering windows — and what role they may have played in the blaze.
Previous Safety Concerns
For almost a year, some residents at the Wang Fuk Court complex had been raising safety concerns to Hong Kong authorities about the scaffolding materials being used in the renovation, according to documents reviewed by the Associated Press, specifically about the netting that covered the scaffolding.
Response from Authorities
Hong Kong’s labor department in a statement Saturday confirmed it had received such complaints, adding that officials had carried out 16 inspections of Wang Fuk Court’s renovation project since July 2024 and had warned contractors multiple times in writing that they must ensure they met fire safety requirements. The city carried out an inspection as late as one week before the fire.
Investigation Findings
Preliminary investigations showed the fire started on a lower-level scaffolding net of one of the buildings. It then spread rapidly as the foam panels caught fire, said Chris Tang, the city’s secretary for security. Police also said they had been looking at the highly flammable foam panels.
Fire Spread and Intensification
“The blaze ignited the foam panels, causing the glass to shatter and leading to a swift intensification of the fire and its spread into the interior spaces,” Tang said.
Prosecutions and Fines
The labor department said later Saturday that three prosecutions were brought against the company alleging breaches of safety regulations, and convictions in two of the cases resulted in fines of totaling about $3,850.
Fire Response and Aftermath
First responders found that some fire alarms in the complex, which housed many older people, did not sound when tested, said Andy Yeung, the director of Hong Kong Fire Services. He did not specify how many were not working or if any of the others were.
Search and Rescue Efforts
It took firefighters a day to bring the fire under control, and it was not fully extinguished until Friday morning — some 40 hours after it started. Crews prioritized apartments from which they had received emergency calls during the blaze but were unable to reach in the hours that the fire burned out of control, Derek Armstrong Chan, a deputy director of Hong Kong Fire Services, told reporters.
Casualties and Damage
Twelve firefighters were among the 79 people injured in the blaze, and one firefighter was killed. Even two days after the fire began, smoke continued to drift out of the charred skeletons of the buildings from the occasional flare-up.
Identification of Victims
Though more bodies might be recovered, authorities said, crews have finished their search for anyone living trapped inside. Authorities said Saturday they need to identify 44 more bodies out of the 128 recovered. About 150 people remain unaccounted for.
International Response
The dead included two Indonesian migrant workers, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said Thursday. About 11 other migrants from the country who were working as domestic helpers in the apartment complex remain missing, Indonesian Consul General Yul Edison said Friday.
Community Reaction
Near the site of the fire, Sara Yu held the hand of her 2-year-old son, Dominic, as they each placed a single white rose into a growing cluster of the flowers in a small children’s playground. “I brought the kids here because I want them to understand that living in this world is something to be cherished,” she said, holding back tears.
Mourning and Reflection
Outside a building close to the scene of the fire where family members came to identify loved ones from photographs, people placed bouquets of white roses, lilies and carnations. “More than 128 innocent lives, what did they do wrong?” asked a sign placed among the flowers. The city lowered flags to half staff in mourning, and Chief Executive John Lee led a three-minute period of silence Saturday from the government headquarters with officials all dressed in black.
Historical Context
The fire was the deadliest in Hong Kong in decades. A 1996 fire in a commercial building in Kowloon killed 41 people. A warehouse fire in 1948 killed 176 people, according to the South China Morning Post.
Conclusion
The tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court complex has raised significant concerns about corruption, negligence, and the prioritization of safety in construction projects. The investigation and its findings will be crucial in determining the causes of the fire and in preventing such disasters in the future.
FAQs
What was the cause of the fire at Wang Fuk Court complex?
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but preliminary findings suggest it started on a lower-level scaffolding net and spread rapidly due to highly flammable foam panels.
How many people died in the fire?
At least 128 people died in the fire, with authorities still working to identify 44 more bodies.
Were there any previous safety concerns raised about the renovation?
Yes, residents had raised safety concerns about the scaffolding materials used in the renovation more than a year before the fire.
What is being done to investigate the fire and prevent future incidents?
The Independent Commission Against Corruption and other authorities are investigating the fire, and there have been arrests related to suspected manslaughter and gross negligence. The city is also reviewing its safety regulations and inspection processes.
