Hong Kong fire death toll rises to 128; eight nabbed over negligence, corruption

International

HONG KONG faces mounting grief as the death toll from the Wang Fuk Court inferno climbs to 128, with dozens still missing and authorities promising weeks-long investigations into possible negligence and corruption.

According to a BBC report, eight individuals have been arrested on suspicion of corruption related to renovation work on the buildings, following earlier detentions of three people on manslaughter charges.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, though officials said flammable materials, including polystyrene panels and protective netting, helped the blaze spread rapidly.

The fire, which erupted at 14:51 local time (06:51 GMT) on Wednesday, engulfed seven of the complex’s eight high-rise blocks. Firefighters deployed 2,311 personnel to battle flames that reached 500°C (932°F), finally bringing the fire under control by 10:18 local time (02:18 GMT) on Friday.

Among the victims is firefighter Ho Wai-ho, 37, who was found collapsed at the scene shortly after losing contact with colleagues.

Twelve other firefighters were injured, along with two Indonesian workers who also died.

Survivor Fita, an Indonesian national, said she felt “so grateful” to be safe, describing the fire as frightening and confusing while worrying about friends who had not been seen since the blaze.

Authorities are calling on families to help identify victims, with 89 bodies still unidentified and 16 remaining inside the buildings.

A community hall has been opened for relatives searching for missing loved ones, while shelters and support centers have been set up for displaced residents. Volunteers have been distributing clothing and hygiene supplies to those affected.

Residents have expressed outrage, noting that fire alarms in all eight blocks were not functioning properly, and some had reportedly been turned off by construction workers.

Survivors and online reports highlighted prior complaints over high renovation fees and concerns about whether building materials complied with fire-safety regulations.

“We have reason to believe that those in charge at the company were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties,” a police spokesperson said in the report.

Built in 1983, Wang Fuk Court contained 1,984 apartments housing roughly 4,600 residents, nearly 40% of whom are over 65. Many had lived in the complex since its construction.(MyTVCebu)