By Zoila Palma: Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has claimed at least 128 lives, with dozens still unaccounted for, after a massive blaze tore through the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Tai Po on Wednesday.
Police confirmed in a briefing that 79 people were injured and that 16 bodies remain inside the complex as recovery operations continue. The fire, which erupted at 2:51 p.m. local time, burned for more than a day before being fully extinguished early Thursday morning.
Officials revealed that fire alarms in all eight residential blocks were not functioning properly, echoing residents’ reports that some alarms never sounded.
Fire experts told the BBC that bamboo scaffolding and construction materials surrounding the buildings — which were undergoing renovation — likely accelerated the fire’s rapid spread. The discovery has intensified scrutiny over safety practices at the site.
Police have arrested three men linked to a construction firm on suspicion of manslaughter, and a separate corruption probe is now under way.
Labour and Welfare Secretary Chris Sun said his department had conducted 16 health and safety checks at the site since July of last year, including a final inspection on 20 November, during which management received a written reminder about fire safety following complaints of workers smoking on-site.
As night falls, families of the missing continue to wait anxiously near the cordoned-off estate.
The post International News: 128 dead in Hong Kong’s worst blaze in decades; faulty alarms, arrests deepen scrutiny appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has claimed at least 128 lives, with dozens still unaccounted for, after a massive blaze tore through the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Tai Po on Wednesday. Police confirmed in a briefing that 79 people were injured and that 16 bodies remain inside the complex as
The post International News: 128 dead in Hong Kong’s worst blaze in decades; faulty alarms, arrests deepen scrutiny appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.