Death toll rises to 146 as thousands pay their respects

It is known that at least 146 people died in a devastating fire that destroyed several high-rise buildings in Hong Kong.

Police announced the death toll at a press conference on Sunday, warning that they “cannot rule out the possibility of more deaths.” They added that 79 others were injured and 150 are still missing.

Seven of eight residential towers in the northern Tai Po district quickly caught fire on Wednesday. Accusations that the fire was contributed to the presence of flammable materials on the exterior of the buildings sparked anger and concern.

Thousands gathered at the Wang Phuc Court Complex on Sunday to mourn the victims, with queues stretching nearly two kilometres.

The death toll has risen since the fire broke out, while officials are working to recover and identify the bodies.

The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Eight people were arrested on suspicion of involvement in corruption related to the renovations carried out on the twin towers, while three others were arrested on charges of manslaughter.

The fire – which quickly spread up and between blocks – was only extinguished by Friday morning, and it took more than 2,000 firefighters to bring it under control.

On the same day, police began entering the buildings to collect evidence. Authorities say the investigation could take three to four weeks.

Police official Cang Shuk-yin said on Sunday that officers had so far completed inspections of four of the towers.

The Indonesian Consulate in Hong Kong said that at least seven of its citizens had died due to the fire, while the Philippine Consulate said that one of its citizens had died.

Firefighter Ho Wai Ho, 37, was identified as among the dead. He was found collapsed at the scene on Wednesday, about 30 minutes after contact was lost.

The fire department said the fire reached 500 degrees Celsius (932 Fahrenheit). 12 firefighters were injured while fighting the fire.

Officials said the fire spread quickly across the separate blocks due to the presence of plastic nets and other flammable materials outside the buildings.

The tower’s blocks were also covered with bamboo scaffolding, which is commonly used in construction and renovation work in Hong Kong. The fire sparked debate about whether it should still be used.

Several residents said they did not hear the fire alarm when the fire broke out. The Hong Kong Fire Service found that fire alarms in all eight buildings were not working effectively.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said that among those detained in the corruption investigation were directors of an engineering company and scaffolding subcontractors.

A police spokesman previously said they had reason to believe that “officials at the company were grossly negligent,” leading to the fire and causing it to “spread uncontrollably.”

The Hong Kong Building Department has temporarily suspended work on 30 private projects.

Police reportedly arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was part of a group calling for an independent investigation into the fire.

The fire – the deadliest in Hong Kong in more than 70 years – prompted the region’s authority to take action – Declaration of mourning for three daysWhich started on Saturday.

Officials observed a minute of silence to mark the beginning of the period, while the Chinese and Hong Kong flags were lowered at half-mast.

Thousands of people visited the scene to lay flowers, pray and give handwritten messages to the victims.

Built in 1983, Wang Fook Court provided 1,984 apartments for about 4,600 residents, according to the 2021 government census.

It is estimated that approximately 40% of its population is at least 65 years old. Some live in a subsidized housing area since its construction.

The second deadliest fire on record in Hong Kong killed 176 people in 1948, and was caused by an explosion on the ground floor of a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest accident was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 people died.