As of the previous day, 79 injured and about 200 missing
Eight more construction-related personnel arrested
As of November 26 (local time), the death toll from the Hong Kong apartment fire disaster has reached at least 128, and the Hong Kong authorities have declared a three-day official mourning period starting on the 29th.
According to Hong Kong media outlets such as the South China Morning Post (SCMP), authorities announced this in connection with the fire that lasted for 43 hours across seven buildings of the 32-story Wong Fuk Court apartment complex in Tai Po, northern Hong Kong. During the mourning period, the Chinese national flag and the Hong Kong flag will be flown at half-mast at government offices, and all commemorative events and performances organized or sponsored by the government will be postponed or canceled.
The exterior walls of the high-rise apartment complex Wong Fuk Court in Tai Po, northern Hong Kong, where a major fire broke out, have turned blackened. Photo by Yonhap News
Senior Hong Kong officials observed a three-minute silence for the victims starting at 8 a.m. on this day, and condolence sites and books of condolences have been set up for citizens throughout the city. King Charles III of the United Kingdom also sent a message of condolence. The Hong Kong authorities called for unity among citizens and warned that they would take a firm stance against online rumors and misinformation.
As of 8:15 p.m. the previous day, authorities reported 128 deaths, including one firefighter. There are 79 injured and approximately 200 missing, and as search operations continue, it is expected that the number of fatalities among the missing will increase.
This fire resulted in the largest loss of life in 77 years since the warehouse fire in 1948 that claimed 176 lives. In Hong Kong, there is growing public demand for explanations as to why the flames spread so rapidly within minutes, why the fire alarm did not sound, and whether there were issues during construction. Investigations into the cause of the accident and inquiries into those involved in the construction are ongoing.
Regarding the rapid spread of the fire, authorities have identified the large flammable Styrofoam panels surrounding the building's windows and doors as one of the main causes. Chris Tang, Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, stated, "It is believed that the fire, which started in the external mesh netting on the lower floors, quickly spread upward via the Styrofoam, affecting multiple floors." He added, "The high temperatures caused the bamboo scaffolding (temporary structures installed at high-rise construction sites) and protective netting to burn, and pieces of burning bamboo fell, spreading the fire to other floors."
Following the fire, authorities inspected 127 buildings with scaffolding and mesh netting installed, and found two cases where windows were covered with Styrofoam. The Styrofoam was immediately ordered to be removed.
On the 27th, authorities arrested three construction-related personnel, and the following day, they arrested an additional eight people, including those from engineering consulting firms and scaffolding subcontractors.
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