Official says painstaking search for victims of Hong Kong fire continues with possibility that some may never be found

The remains of many victims from last weeks massive fire at a Hong Kong apartment complex may never be recovered, city officials warned Monday, as teams continue a careful search of the site. The confirmed death toll has risen to 151, with at least 30 people still unaccounted for following the citys deadliest fire in decades, which engulfed seven high-rise towers at Wang Fuk Court.

The residential complex, undergoing renovations at the time, housed more than 4,000 residents, including a significant number of elderly individuals. Some bodies have been reduced to ashes, so it is possible that not all missing people will be recovered, said Chief Superintendent Karen Tsang, head of the casualty inquiry unit, visibly emotional during a press briefing.

Authorities reported that 14 people have been arrested in connection with the fire, with additional arrests expected. Investigations focus on construction companies accused of using materials that did not meet fire safety standards. Most detained are consultants, contractors, and subcontractors, with 13 under investigation for potential manslaughter by gross negligence.

Approximately 600 disaster victim identification experts have been conducting methodical searches, going door to door through the damaged apartments since the fire was extinguished on Friday. Bodies have been discovered in hallways, flats, staircases, and even on rooftops, said Police Superintendent Cheng Ka-chun, who leads the specialist identification unit.

Photos released by Hong Kong Police show search teams in protective suits sifting through the ashes of destroyed apartments. The operation is complicated by poor lighting and narrow corridors blocked by debris. Officers navigate shattered windows, blackened walls, and peeling paint to reach affected units. The apartments are completely dark due to the loss of electricity, Cheng added.

By Monday night, searches were completed in five of the seven towers, but officials said structural instability prevented safe entry into some apartments in the remaining buildings. The first tower to catch fire was Wang Cheong House, and it was among the last to be extinguished. The environment remains extremely hazardous, said Regional Commander Lam Man-han.

The victims included elderly residents, foreign domestic workers living with families, construction workers, and a firefighter. Nine domestic helpers were from Indonesia and one from the Philippines, according to consulates. Officials cited substandard mesh netting on bamboo scaffolding as a factor in the fires rapid spread, with seven of 20 samples from the complex failing fire safety inspections.

A corruption investigation is underway for 12 of those arrested. Authorities allege damaged netting from a July typhoon was replaced with non-compliant material to reduce costs, and only ground floors of towers were wrapped with fire-safe netting. The suspects acted cunningly, prioritizing minimal profits over human lives, said Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki.

The citys building department is now testing 300 other construction sites using similar netting. Polystyrene boards used to block windows also contributed to the blazes rapid spread, with three other sites identified using the same method, officials said.

On Sunday, hundreds of Hong Kong residents gathered to lay flowers near the burned complex, forming a line over a kilometer long. Mourners included families, elderly citizens, and foreign domestic helpers, many leaving notes expressing grief and hope for justice. Donations exceeding 900 million Hong Kong dollars ($115 million) have been received from businesses and the public, with volunteers distributing food and supplies at the scene.

Authorities cautioned against the fire being used to incite political unrest, referencing the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Beijings national security office warned against dissent, urging the Hong Kong government to act against those seeking to use the incident to stir chaos.

National security police have arrested three people, including one accused of incitement after allegedly distributing materials supporting an independent inquiry into the fire. The petition, which gathered over 10,000 signatures, was subsequently removed. A pro-Beijing newspaper reported that a senior police superintendent overseeing national security visited the site.

Officials have directed volunteers to leave the area, centralizing aid distribution and requiring registration via WhatsApp for donations.

Author: Sophia Brooks