128 people killed in Hong Kong tower block fire

The death toll from a catastrophic fire in a Hong Kong apartment complex has climbed to 128, according to city official Chris Tang on Friday. Around 200 people remain unaccounted for, with many of the recovered victims yet to be identified, Tang reported.

The blaze erupted on Wednesday in a building within the Wang Fuk Court residential area and rapidly spread to neighboring towers, each exceeding 30 floors. This incident marks the most destructive fire in Hong Kong in several decades.

The fire department successfully extinguished the flames and concluded search and rescue operations by Friday. Among the 79 injured are multiple firefighters, and one 37-year-old firefighter lost his life during the operation.

The precise cause of the fire is still under investigation. Tang stated that authorities retrieved 108 bodies from the towers, while four more individuals died in hospitals. Sixteen bodies remain inside the buildings, with the possibility of additional victims yet to be ruled out.

Investigations have noted that bamboo scaffolding had been installed around the apartment towers as part of ongoing renovations dating back to the 1980s. Officials indicated that some construction materials may not have complied with safety standards. Three men associated with the construction company have been detained on suspicion of manslaughter.

In response to criticism regarding fire safety, the Hong Kong government announced plans to replace bamboo scaffolding with steel scaffolding as quickly as possible.

Author: Sophia Brooks