Hong Kong Ends Rescue After Deadly Tower Fire

Rescue crews have officially ended operations at the site of a catastrophic fire at Wang Fuk Court, a high-rise residential estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong, after a multi-storey blaze tore through seven of the estate's eight towers.

The fire, which started on 26 November amid ongoing renovation works, has claimed at least 128 lives, making it the deadliest residential fire in Hong Kong in decades. 

Authorities report that about 200 people remain unaccounted for, raising concern that the confirmed death toll may yet rise. Of the 128 fatalities, only a fraction have so far been formally identified. Meanwhile, at least 79 people were injured in the blaze, including twelve firefighters responding to the emergency. 

Investigations have revealed serious safety failings: fire alarms in the apartment blocks did not activate, and renovation-related materials, including bamboo scaffolding wrapped in green mesh, and flammable foam panels on windows, appear to have fueled the rapid spread of the blaze. 

In response, authorities have carried out multiple arrests: three individuals linked to the construction firm responsible for the renovation were detained on suspicion of manslaughter, and the city's anti-corruption agency later arrested another eight people on suspicion of corruption related to the renovation work. 

The fire has triggered widespread shock and grief across Hong Kong residents displaced by the blaze have been sheltering in temporary accommodations provided by community organisations, while a HK$300 million relief fund has been announced to support victims and families. 

As authorities begin forensic and structural inspections, calls are growing for a comprehensive overhaul of fire-safety regulations, enforcement of building standards, and stricter oversight of renovation practices, especially in older high-rise housing estates.

Source-  The Guardian, AP News