A massive fire broke out at the Wang Fuk Court estates in Hong Kong and destroyed everything that stood in its way, leaving the international community shocked at the destruction. The fire swept through the seven residential towers for 43 hours, claiming lives, and it is reported that it is the deadliest building fire that has occurred in the last four decades. Rescue efforts are still being carried out among the ruins.
Tragic death toll reveals devastating scope of disaster
The number of victims of the disastrous fire has continued to rise, with at least 159 dead, ranging from a one-year-old baby to a 97-year-old elderly person. According to the Police Commissioner, Joe Chow, among the dead are at least 91 women and 41 men, with 19 bodies not identified. The fire emergency services have searched all seven out of the eight high-rise residential towers that caught fire.
However, the number of dead is expected to go higher after the examination of the “suspected human bones” found among the rubble. Around 30 people remained missing when the search for victims ended among the main buildings. Over 2,900 residents have been moved to temporary shelter, while those on the only block that was not affected were allowed short visits to take important belongings.
The police force is still rummaging through the rubble of fallen bamboo scaffolding for any signs of other bodies that might be buried beneath the debris. The scale of the devastation caused by the disaster in the residential area has come to light thanks to the search and rescue efforts. It will take forensic analysis to determine the number of new bodies that will contribute to the already staggering number of dead.
Scaffolding materials accelerated the fire’s deadly spread
The Wang Fuk Court residential estate has been undergoing major renovations since last July, with bamboo scaffolding and green netting covering the buildings. It was found that the use of sub-standard plastic nylon nettings on the scaffoldings and the foam boards placed on the windows of the buildings helped the fire spread quickly. The flammable foam panels and non-fire-resistant netting covering the bamboo structures provided ideal conditions for the fire to spread from one building to the other.
In light of the situation, the Secretary for Development, Bernadette Linn, has directed that the mesh of all building structures undergoing maintenance works should be removed by Saturday. According to local sources, about 200 building structures will have to follow this directive. The construction industry will get rid of the outer scaffold meshing of the involved buildings. The police have arrested 21 people for their link to the disaster. Of these, 15 have been arrested for manslaughter. Six other suspects have been arrested for allegedly disabling fire alarms when they renovated the building.
Community says goodbye, authorities questioned about accountability
There is a small park nearby where the destroyed towers stand, and it is where a memorial for the victims, characterized by flowers, messages, and paper origami cranes, exists. According to volunteer organizer Sarah Lam, the victims have “suffered many injustices.” However, the demands of the public for accountability have been faced with the new political landscape of Hong Kong since the implementation of the National Security Law of 2020.
“I hope that people can come here and put their grief to rest. I hope that the truth will come out quickly … so that they will not have to leave this world with these unjustified grievances.” – Sarah Lam, volunteer organizer
The Wang Fuk Court disaster is a reminder of the severe aftermaths that can arise when construction shortcuts and poor regulation policies come into play. As the people of Hong Kong face the unprecedented disaster, attention is immediately drawn to how the catastrophe can be avoided in the future. The loss of 159 lives will eternally pave the way for improvements regarding building safety.
