HONG KONG (AP) — The devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court, which is considered Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades, has ignited concerns over corruption and negligence related to the construction renovations of the residential complex, where at least 128 lives were lost. The fire erupted in the northern suburbs of Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon, engulfing seven out of the complex's eight towers. With approximately 4,800 residents residing in the complex, numerous safety concerns had been raised regarding the renovations well before the incident, specifically concerning the materials used.
On the day of the fire, police apprehended three men from a construction firm on suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence. Although they were released on bail, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) later arrested them again, indicating their managerial roles in the renovation project. Prior to this, ICAC had taken into custody seven other men and one woman connected to the renovations. The construction company involved has not been publicly named, but the homeowners association’s posted documents have indicated that Prestige Construction & Engineering Company was responsible for the renovations. Authorities have since confiscated large quantities of documents from the firm as part of their investigation.
Investigations revealed that safety concerns regarding the renovations were vocalized by residents nearly a year prior to the fire. They specifically flagged issues related to the safety of the scaffolding netting materials being utilized. The Hong Kong labor department confirmed that it received various complaints and had been proactive, conducting a total of 16 inspections of the renovation project since July 2024. Officials had issued multiple warnings to contractors about ensuring compliance with fire safety mandates, with the last inspection conducted just a week before the blaze. Although the netting used was deemed up to quality standards, it was not the focus of prior inspections.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire commenced on lower-level scaffolding netting of one of the towers and spread rapidly as the foam panels used in the renovations ignited. Hong Kong's Secretary for Security, Chris Tang, stated that the fire led to glass shattering and a swift escalation, causing flames to invade the interior spaces of the apartment complex. Investigators are meticulously scrutinizing the highly flammable foam panels as potential catalysts for the fire.
Following the incident, the labor department disclosed that the construction company faced three prosecutions for breaches of safety regulations related to height work. The fines imposed on the company totaled 30,000 Hong Kong dollars (approximately $3,850). Furthermore, the company had previously been fined three times in 2023 for unrelated safety violations. Compounding the tragedy, reports surfaced indicating that some fire alarms within the complex had not functioned properly when tested.
The intensity of the blaze resulted in a prolonged firefighting effort, taking teams nearly 40 hours to extinguish the flames. Firefighters prioritized rescues from apartments where emergency calls were received but faced severe challenges due to the out-of-control nature of the fire. The fire injured 79 individuals, including 12 firefighters, and led to the death of one firefighter. Even days afterward, smoke continued to escape from the charred remains of the buildings.
As recovery efforts proceeded, authorities disclosed that while 128 bodies had been recovered, 44 more remained unidentified and about 150 individuals were still unaccounted for. The deceased included two Indonesian migrant workers, with additional reports highlighting at least eleven domestic helpers from Indonesia who were still missing.
In the aftermath, mourners gathered near the site of the fire, leaving flowers and messages to honor the victims. The local government acknowledged the tragedy, with flags lowered to half-staff and Chief Executive John Lee leading a moment of silence as officials wore black to mourn those who perished. The incident stands as a grim reminder of the risks posed by negligence in safety standards, making this fire the most lethal in Hong Kong's recent history, surpassing even the tragic 1996 Kowloon commercial building fire that resulted in 41 fatalities.
