HONG KONG — A deep, heavy silence fell over the city on Saturday as Hong Kong mourned the 128 lives lost in the catastrophic fire that tore through the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex — a tragedy so immense it has become the city’s deadliest blaze in nearly eight decades.
But the grief is far from over. More than 200 people remain missing, and authorities warn the death toll may still climb.
Arrests Made as Investigators Probe Corruption, Unsafe Construction
The tragedy has sparked a sweeping investigation.
So far, 11 people have been arrested, including engineers, subcontractors, and construction executives suspected of corruption and the use of dangerously flammable materials during the building’s renovation.
The fire began Wednesday afternoon and spread with terrifying speed, engulfing seven of the eight 32-storey towers — all wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh, with foam insulation layered along the walls.
Fire alarms in the estate — home to more than 4,600 residents — were not working properly, officials confirmed.
A City in Mourning
On Saturday morning, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and top officials stood outside government offices, dressed in black. For three long minutes, they bowed their heads in silence as the city’s flags were lowered to half-mast.
Across Hong Kong, 18 condolence sites have been set up, where residents quietly lay flowers, light candles, and whisper prayers for loved ones they will never see again.
Even Britain’s King Charles extended condolences, calling it an “appalling tragedy” and offering sympathy to families drowning in grief and shock.
Inside the Ruins: Search Teams Move Through Ash and Silence
At Wang Fuk Court, disaster victim identification teams in white suits and oxygen masks made their way through the skeletal remains of the towers.
They climbed over collapsed bamboo poles.
They stepped through deep puddles left by days of firefighting.
And they searched — for names, for bodies, for closure.
But closure remains distant.
Out of the 128 confirmed dead, only 39 have been identified.
Families stood outside the cordoned area, many crying as they viewed heartbreaking photos of the deceased, hoping and fearing at the same time.
Volunteers Rush to Help: A City Unites in Compassion
Hundreds of volunteers, moved by the scale of the disaster, have mobilized.
Some sort diapers.
Others prepare hot meals.
Dozens work in shifts to transport supplies.
A sprawling relief center has risen beside a shopping mall across from the burnt towers — a place where displaced families find comfort, warmth, and community support.
Migrant Workers Among the Victims
The tragedy has also shaken Hong Kong’s migrant community.
Among the dead are at least six Indonesian domestic workers.
From the Philippines, one is critically injured, one is confirmed missing, and 28 others — believed to be residents in the affected blocks — have yet to be located.
Hong Kong is home to more than 368,000 domestic workers, many living with employers in small rooms within dense residential estates like Wang Fuk Court.
Warnings Were Ignored
Residents had raised alarm months ago about fire hazards linked to the renovation — especially the flammable green mesh wrapped around the scaffolding.
Authorities told them the risks were “relatively low.”
Now, anger is beginning to rise.
Volunteers near the train station handed out flyers demanding:
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Proper resettlement for survivors
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A full overhaul of construction oversight
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An independent investigation into government failures
Some compared the tragedy to London’s Grenfell Tower fire, where blame spread beyond construction companies to regulators.
The Investigation Widens
Hong Kong’s anti-graft body says its arrests now include:
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An engineering consultant
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A scaffolding subcontractor
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An intermediary involved in the renovation
Police earlier detained two directors and a consultant from Prestige Construction, the firm responsible for maintenance at Wang Fuk Court, on suspicion of manslaughter.
They are accused of using flammable foam boards that blocked escape routes and windows.
The company has not responded to inquiries.
A City Searching for Answers
While public anger has been quieter than in past tragedies, the pain is unmistakably deep.
Analysts warn that pressure for accountability may quickly extend to government regulators — especially since Hong Kong traditionally responds to such disasters with open, independent inquiries.
For now, the city mourns.
Families wait.
Rescuers search.
And Hong Kong stands in grief, united by loss, fear, and a desperate hope for answers.
