The death toll from the massive fire that swept through residential towers in Hong Kong has tragically risen to 44. Authorities are still grappling with the aftermath, as 45 individuals remain in critical condition, and hundreds are still unaccounted for. Police have confirmed the arrest of three suspects in connection with the devastating blaze.
In a press conference held early this morning, the Fire Department announced the updated casualty figure, a significant increase from the initial count of 36. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, addressed reporters, stating that approximately 279 people remain unreachable and that 900 individuals are currently housed in eight shelters.
As of early this morning, authorities reported that the fires had been contained in four of the affected towers. However, operations are ongoing in the remaining three towers, more than 15 hours after the initial outbreak. Firefighters faced considerable challenges throughout the night, struggling to reach the upper floors of the Wang Fuk Court residential complex due to extreme heat and thick smoke.
The Wang Fuk Court complex comprises eight 31-story towers, housing approximately 2,000 apartments and an estimated 4,800 residents. A dedicated task force has been established to investigate the cause of the fire.
Authorities announced early this morning that three men from a construction company have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter related to the fire. Preliminary investigations suggest potential negligence in safety protocols may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames. The authorities have classified the incident as a Level Five fire, the highest emergency designation. At least 128 fire trucks and nearly 800 firefighters were deployed to the scene. Roads, including major highways near the towers, remain closed.
Police have indicated that the construction company, responsible for maintenance work, allegedly used protective netting and plastic sheeting on the buildings that may not have met fire safety standards. Furthermore, a foam material was reportedly used to seal some windows.
