Hong Kong's Deadliest Fire in Decades: 83 Dead, Scores Missing as Police Arrest Construction Firm Bosses
Image Source: Internet
Hong Kong has been gripped by its worst fire in nearly 80 years, claiming at least 83 lives and leaving scores of people missing. The blaze, which ravaged the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in the northern district of Tai Po, has sparked widespread outrage and concern over safety standards. Firefighters battled intense heat, thick smoke, and collapsing scaffolding to rescue residents trapped in the eight-tower complex, which was undergoing renovations. The majority of the victims were found in two high-rise blocks, with several residents rescued alive. Police arrested two directors and an engineering consultant of Prestige Construction, the firm contracted to perform maintenance on the buildings, on suspicion of manslaughter for allegedly using unsafe materials. The company's management is accused of gross negligence, which led to the fire spreading uncontrollably. The confirmed death toll has surpassed Hong Kong's deadliest fire in 1948, which killed 176 people in a warehouse blaze. The government has set up a HK$300 million fund to support residents, and several companies, including Xiaomi and Xpeng, have announced donations. The tragedy has raised concerns over safety standards in Hong Kong's densely populated high-rise housing complexes, with many residents calling for improved regulations and accountability. The city's government has vowed to review its safety measures and has discussed replacing bamboo scaffolding with metal scaffolding as a safety precaution. The fire has also sparked comparisons to the 2017 Grenfell Tower inferno in London, which killed 72 people. Hong Kong's residents are demanding answers and action to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
