A devastating fire tore through Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on Thursday, resulting in the loss of 75 lives, including a firefighter, and injuring 76 others, marking the city’s deadliest residential blaze in decades. The comprehensive disaster response involved a massive turnout from the Fire Services Department (FSD), while government operations shifted immediately to relief and recovery efforts. Officials are now bracing for an extensive inquiry following reports of crucial fire safety system failures and prior warnings issued to the building’s renovation contractor.
Immediate Aftermath and Casualty Count
The tragedy unfolded at Wang Fuk Court, where the FSD reported receiving 346 calls for assistance. As of the late Thursday evening tally, 75 fatalities were confirmed. The sheer scale of the incident was evidenced by the Hospital Authority’s report indicating 12 victims remained in critical condition and 28 were serious, while 16 were stable and 21 had been discharged. Tragically, 61 victims were pronounced dead at the scene, with four others succumbing to injuries after transfer to hospitals.
The fire fighting efforts were equally harrowing, with 11 Fire Services personnel treated for injuries. Search-and-rescue operations continued late into the evening, with aerial ladders deployed to douse visible flames in some remaining residential units.
Government Shifts Focus to Mourning and Recovery
In response to the catastrophe, the Hong Kong Government immediately scaled back public operations. All non-essential government celebrations and engagements have been either canceled or postponed.
Planned Mourning Activities:
- Flags at Half-Mast: Public buildings will fly flags at half-mast.
- Memorial Service: A public memorial service is being planned.
- Condolence Books: Condolence books will be arranged for community tributes.
To aid affected residents who lost documentation, the Immigration Department established a temporary service post at CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School to process replacement identity documents.
The Labour Department extended condolences to families and particularly highlighted the death of a foreign domestic worker, offering sympathies to their family and employer. The department also activated dedicated hotlines (3582 8987 or 2929 4054) to address employment-related concerns for affected domestic workers and their employers.
Prior Safety Warnings Surface
The intensity and significant loss of life in the blaze have brought scrutiny upon safety protocols at the estate. Residents reported that fire alarms reportedly failed to sound, potentially hindering evacuation efforts. Furthermore, structural engineers have voiced concerns that units extensively gutted by the inferno may be rendered uninhabitable.
Compounding these concerns, reports indicate that the Labour Department had cautioned the renovation contractor responsible for works at Wang Fuk Court regarding potential fire hazards just days prior to the tragedy. Officials confirmed they reminded the contractor to implement sufficient fire safety measures following recent inspections.
Since July of the previous year, the Labour Department had conducted 16 site inspections at Wang Fuk Court, with the most recent visit occurring on November 20. While these inspections included checks on scaffolding safety, officials noted that inspections had previously identified “unsafe conditions for working at height,” resulting in three official warnings being issued. This revelation is expected to form a central focus of the impending investigation into the cause of the disaster.
The immediate priorities for authorities remain supporting the bereaved, treating the injured, and conducting a thorough investigation to ensure accountability and prevent future tragedies of this magnitude.