One other 100 individuals stay unaccounted for after seven high-rise buildings caught hearth and continued burning for 2 days.
Printed On 30 Nov 2025
Authorities in Hong Kong stated 18 extra human stays have been discovered after the massive blaze within the eight-apartment Wang Fuk Courtroom property, bringing the dying toll to 146 individuals.
Police and hearth authorities held a information convention on Sunday to offer an replace on Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in additional than 75 years, which burned by way of seven of the residential buildings within the complicated over two days earlier than being totally put out by Friday.
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Shuk-yin Tsang, the top of the Hong Kong police casualty unit, informed reporters on the scene that one other 100 individuals stay unaccounted for and 79 have been injured. The police had beforehand reported 128 deaths, with households aiding within the troublesome identification course of.
Cheng Ka-chun, the officer accountable for the police sufferer identification unit, stated the unit has searched by way of 4 of the buildings to date, discovering our bodies each in residence models and on the roofs.
He added that the unit “can not rule out the opportunity of additional fatalities”, whereas the complete search course of throughout all burned buildings is predicted to take three to 4 weeks.
On the scene of the blaze on Sunday, greater than 1,000 individuals gathered to pay tribute to the victims, some bringing flowers and handwritten notes whereas others stated prayers.
Joey Yeung, 28, whose grandmother’s residence burned within the hearth, stated she had come along with her household with a way of each mourning for the victims and anger at these accountable.
“I can’t settle for it. So at present I got here with my father and my household to put flowers,” Yeung informed the Reuters information company. “I’m not asking to get something again, however at the very least give some justice to the households of the deceased – to those that are nonetheless alive.”
Hong Kong has seen public anger and dismay over the tragedy, because the complicated had repeatedly acquired warnings from residents about dangers in addition to proof of unsafe construction practices.
The buildings had been below renovation since final 12 months, and the bamboo scaffolding and flammable foam boards used to guard home windows in the course of the course of quickly caught and unfold the hearth.
Police on Saturday arrested Miles Kwan, 24, who was a part of a bunch that launched a petition demanding an impartial probe into potential corruption and a overview of building oversight, two individuals acquainted with the matter informed Reuters.
The web petition promoted by the group drew greater than 10,000 signatures by Saturday afternoon earlier than it was closed.
Hong Kong officers introduced late on Saturday that that they had ordered the speedy suspension of labor on 28 constructing initiatives undertaken by the contractor of the complicated, the Status Development and Engineering Firm, for security audits.
Three firm officers are amongst at the very least 11 individuals arrested in reference to the blaze, in response to native authorities.
Most of the 4,600 individuals residing within the eight high-rise buildings are actually housed in short-term emergency shelters or metropolis resorts, and authorities are engaged on longer-term options.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Jeffery Chan, a civil servant who got here to pay his respects on Sunday, informed The Related Press information company.
“As a Hong Konger, seeing individuals within the place the place we dwell lose their households, lose every little thing in only one evening – if you happen to put your self of their footwear, it’s insufferable. They want encouragement, assist and assist from the individuals of Hong Kong,” he stated.
