The death toll in a fire at an apartment complex in Hong Kong has climbed to 146 as more bodies were discovered by investigators. People continue to pay their respects by leaving flowers at a growing memorial at the site, marking one of the city’s deadliest incidents.
Authorities from the Hong Kong police Disaster Victim Identification Unit have been meticulously searching through the Wang Fuk Court complex, uncovering bodies in both apartments and on the rooftops. Despite the buildings being structurally intact, the search progress has been slow due to the challenging conditions inside the burned-out structures.
The search team has examined four out of the seven blocks so far, revealing an additional 30 bodies, including some that were initially located by firefighters but had not been recovered. Meanwhile, Hong Kong officials have ordered the immediate halt of work on 28 construction projects handled by the same contractor responsible for the ill-fated complex.
Following the fire, three individuals linked to a construction company were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, with further arrests made by anti-corruption authorities. Investigations into the cause of the blaze have highlighted issues such as faulty fire alarms and the use of foam panels that exacerbated the rapid spread of the fire.
The tragedy has left many residents displaced, with efforts underway to provide temporary shelter and long-term solutions. The fire, originating from lower-level scaffolding, quickly engulfed multiple buildings, claiming the lives of several individuals and leaving many more missing. The incident has prompted a nationwide inspection of high-rise buildings in China to address fire safety concerns.