More than a week after a catastrophic blaze engulfed Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, the confirmed death toll has tragically climbed to 159. Authorities have implemented an intensive, household-by-household outreach initiative, deploying nearly the entire force of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) to verify the welfare of all residents affected by the disaster and begin the long process of recovery.
The scale of the tragedy was underscored today by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Chris Sun, who revealed that while immediate outreach has successfully engaged 1,971 households out of 1,984 affected units, 13 households remain unresponsive. Speaking on a local television program, Sun did not dismiss the chilling possibility that these entire, uncontactable families may have perished in the conflagration. Efforts are now focused on tracing non-cohabiting relatives to definitively ascertain the status of these missing residents.
Dedicated Outreach for Crisis Recovery
The government launched a “one social worker per household” scheme almost immediately following the fatal incident to ensure dedicated support and assessment for every family impacted. Of the nearly 2,000 households at Wang Fuk Court, the swift action means 99.3% have already been reached through this specialized approach.
Secretary Sun emphasized the massive commitment required from the SWD. Nearly all of the department’s approximately 2,000 social workers have dedicated time to these one-on-one cases. Crucially, the government intends for this support to be long-term, recognizing the profound psychological and logistical challenges facing survivors.
Current Priorities for Missing Residents:
- Tracing Extended Family: The primary effort for the 13 unresponsive units involves reaching out to known relatives living outside Wang Fuk Court.
- Verification: Teams are working meticulously to verify the circumstances of these residents as quickly as possible.
- Contingency Planning: Police and welfare teams are coordinating to manage the implications should non-contact prove final.
Sustaining Long-Term Support
Addressing public concern about resource strain, Sun assured residents that essential, regular social services across Hong Kong have not been curtailed despite the significant deployment in Tai Po. Should specialist requirements arise—particularly in complex areas such as intensive therapeutic or grief counseling—the government is committed to mobilizing additional resources and manpower from partner organizations.
The disaster highlights the critical role of robust social support systems in immediate disaster response and subsequent community recovery. For those who survived the fire, or those left mourning the loss of family, the dedicated social work initiative provides a vital lifeline, focusing not just on immediate needs but fostering resilience for the difficult years ahead.
The coming days will be crucial as authorities continue their exhaustive search for information regarding the 13 missing households. The outcome will likely determine the final, devastating count of lives lost in the Wang Fuk Court blaze. Community leaders and welfare agencies encourage affected residents to utilize the dedicated support lines established by the SWD for ongoing assistance.