Residents affected by the catastrophic fire that recently ravaged a housing complex in Hong Kong began a difficult return to normalcy on Tuesday, retrieving essential personal items under controlled access, while authorities intensified structural assessments and the criminal investigation into the tragedy. The devastating blaze, which originated at Hong Fook Court, has tragically claimed 156 lives to date, marking one of the city’s worst building disasters.
The controlled operations at Wang Chi Court allowed residents, transported by coach, brief escorted access to their apartments to collect vital possessions. This measured reopening comes as search efforts continue across the complex. Police reported that search completion stands at approximately 40% at Wang Cheong Court and 90% at Wang Sun Court.
In a gesture of respect and somber reflection, a roadside memorial pause was observed early Tuesday afternoon to minimize distress for grieving families. By late afternoon, procedures for 116 victims had been completed at Fu Shan Public Mortuary. Authorities confirmed the identification of 127 sets of remains, with 29 still awaiting confirmation and nearly 30 individuals officially reported missing. Preliminary identification used scene photo review, followed by formal procedures. Given the scale of the disaster, forensic methods, including DNA profiling and dental examination, are being deployed where necessary to ensure accurate identification.
Legal and Safety Investigations Escalate
The investigation into the fire’s cause, damage, and surrounding safety negligence is broadening. Authorities have confirmed the arrest of 15 individuals—14 men and one woman, aged 40 to 77—on suspicion of manslaughter. Those detained include senior representatives from the main contractor, an engineering consultancy firm, and subcontractors responsible for the scaffolding and external wall repairs.
The safety protocols surrounding the ongoing façade repair works have come under intense scrutiny. Investigators deem the construction scaffold netting a critical piece of evidence. Specialized teams are slated to remove segments for laboratory analysis and modeling, with comprehensive evidence recovery expected to span three weeks.
In response to immediate safety concerns, government departments have ramped up compliance checks citywide. The Buildings Department sampled protective netting from 352 private structures undergoing scaffolding work for quality testing. Simultaneously, the Labour Department inspected 110 major worksites to ensure adherence to fire safety and emergency best practices, particularly focusing on the flammability standards of protective materials. These inspections have already led to 11 prosecutions.
Structural Integrity and Public Health Updates
The Housing Bureau’s Independent Vetting Unit, alongside structural engineers and Housing Department professionals, is assessing the structural stability of the damaged towers. Their next step involves core sampling of concrete to conduct detailed structural analyses. Fire Services personnel have already assisted the Housing Department in providing provisional reinforcement works for 13 flats within Wang Cheong Court.
While the emotional and structural recovery efforts progress, hospital figures indicate a marginal improvement in the condition of the injured. As of Tuesday evening, six patients remained in critical condition, down from seven the previous day, alongside eight listed as serious and 24 categorized as stable.
The government continues to deal with the sensitive issue of information management. Police have appealed to social media platforms to remove unauthorized images of remains circulating online and urged the public to delete any copies, underlining the necessity of respecting the privacy and dignity of the victims and their families during this harrowing time. The deployment of the Government Emergency Response Team, a standby unit of civil servants, highlights the “all-of-government” approach activated to manage manpower and coordinate the massive response effort required by the incident.