Hong Kong is going through a major tragedy. At least 44 people have died, and hundreds have gone missing after a devastating fire ripped through a high-rise housing estate. The blaze, called the deadliest fire in three decades, spread rapidly through the densely packed Wang Fuk Court complex in the Tai Po district. Three people have now been arrested in connection with the fire. Here are all the latest updates.
Hong Kong’s Deadliest Fire In Decades
The death toll in the devastating fire that tore through the Wang Fuk Court complex in Hong Kong has risen to 44, with nearly 300 people still missing. The disaster, called the city’s worst fire in three decades, has sent shockwaves around the world. According to a report by The Times of India, the fire broke out suddenly on Wednesday afternoon at around 2:50 pm in the packed Wang Fuk Court complex in the Tai Po district. The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but the eight-building estate was under repair. A devastating video of the fire was also posted by @WeatherMonitors on X.
The complex, which is an eight-building housing estate, houses 2000 apartments. It was wrapped in bamboo scaffolding during its repairs. Bamboo is traditionally used as scaffolding in Hong Kong and is considered highly flammable. Authorities had previously warned of the dangers of using bamboo scaffolding after a blaze spread rapidly last October. Despite the warning and the government’s plan to replace it with fire-resistant steel, the Wang Fuk Court estate remained covered in bamboo. Firefighters tried to control the flames. Residents were evacuated by coach, and parts of a nearby highway were also shut down for the firefighting operation.
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Three Arrested In Connection To The Tragedy
According to a report by NDTV, by early Thursday, police had arrested three men in connection with the fire. They had left foam packaging behind during maintenance work, which allowed the blaze to spread quickly and beyond control. It not only damaged the estate but also took so many lives. AFP journalists reported loud cracking noises and thick smoke billowing between the towers. Some windows were shut, and some residents were unaware of the fire until neighbours alerted them.
Many residents in the building were elderly and unaware of the danger. By Thursday morning, officials confirmed 44 deaths, including a firefighter who was discovered with burns. Hong Kong leader John Lee stated that by Thursday, 279 people were unaccounted for, but firefighters managed to contact some of them. At least 56 people are being treated in the hospital. Sixteen are in critical condition, 24 are serious, and 16 are stable. More than 900 residents took shelter in temporary facilities.
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Authorities are still working on getting the exact numbers, as many people came in late into the night to report missing family members. More details on the incident are awaited.
Cover Image Courtesy: @WeatherMonitors and @auntiepaca/ X
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