Three men were arrestedHigh-rise building fire in Hong Kong: Hundreds of residents missing
A major fire at a housing complex in Hong Kong is only partially under control. Meanwhile, the number of victims continues to increase. The fate of many residents remains unclear. Police arrested three men.
The death toll from a devastating fire at a housing complex in Hong Kong has risen to at least 44 people. Another 45 people were in critical condition, Hong Kong authorities said. About 280 residents are still missing, said Prime Minister John Lee. Among the dead was a 37-year-old firefighter who was found unconscious at the scene and died in hospital.
The fire broke out on Wednesday at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po district. It spread quickly to several multi-storey buildings, which also had scaffolding in front of them. Authorities declared alert level five – the highest category. Firefighters reported extreme temperatures on the upper floors and difficult conditions while fighting the fire. Firefighting work also continued into the evening. The fire is now under control in four of the eight apartment blocks.
Arrest on suspicion of negligent homicide
The cause of the fire is still unclear. Authorities specifically checked the safety standards of traditional bamboo scaffolding and the protective nets attached to it, which were installed throughout the building for the renovation work. In this context, three men – according to media reports, two directors and a technical advisor of a construction company – were arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide.
Investigators allegedly found low-quality building materials and windows made of polystyrene panels and partially blocked. It is a highly flammable plastic that is often used as an insulating material. Both could have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
The complex has around 2000 apartments
The fire was reported to have destroyed seven apartment blocks in the complex. On Wednesday afternoon, the fire department received several calls from people trapped in their apartments. The area includes eight residential buildings, each 32 floors, and almost 2,000 apartments. All buildings are surrounded by scaffolding for renovation work.
Photos and videos from the scene showed large plumes of smoke rising from high-rise residential buildings. You can also see how the facade scaffolding caught fire on several floors and the burnt parts fell to the ground. The source of the fire can be seen inside each apartment. Hong Kong Police set up a telephone service so that the public could obtain information about the victims.
Prime Minister Lee said the fire brigade was “gradually bringing the fire under control” and all available forces had been mobilized. Chinese state and party leader Xi Jinping offered condolences from Beijing, Chinese state television reported. He assured the special administrative regions to provide support. As the South China Morning Post reported, more than 800 firefighters and paramedics were deployed in more than 140 vehicles.
