One-year-old victim among 159 killed in Hong Kong apartment fires, with 30 still missing

HONG KONG The death toll from the devastating fire at a high-rise apartment complex in Hong Kong has climbed to 159, authorities reported Wednesday. Police have arrested six individuals suspected of disabling fire alarms during ongoing maintenance at the buildings. The youngest victim was a 1-year-old child, while the eldest was 97 years old.

Police confirmed that searches for victims inside all seven of the eight towers affected by the fire have been completed. The blaze, which erupted last Wednesday and was not fully extinguished until Friday, still leaves about 30 people missing. Our work is far from over, Police Commissioner Joe Chow stated, noting that officials continue to sift through fallen bamboo scaffolding to determine if any remains are trapped.

The fire erupted at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, a northern suburban district, amid an extensive renovation project. The buildings were covered in bamboo scaffolding and green netting at the time. Authorities revealed that substandard scaffolding netting and foam boards installed on windows contributed to the fires rapid spread.

On Tuesday, police and Hong Kongs anti-corruption agency arrested 15 individuals in connection with potential negligence and corruption tied to the renovation project. The six recently arrested suspects allegedly turned off fire alarms during the maintenance work, leading to charges of false representation to the Fire Services Department. Some residents reported that certain alarms did not activate when the fire began, though the extent of the malfunction remains unclear. The exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

Among the 159 victims, 19 bodies remain unidentified. The casualties include ten migrant domestic workersnine from Indonesia and one from the Philippinesand one firefighter who died while responding to the emergency.

Author: Aiden Foster