HONG KONG — Heartbreak continues to deepen across the city as authorities confirm at least 128 people dead and 200 still missing in a devastating fire that tore through a high-rise residential complex — Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in nearly eight decades.
On Friday, the city’s anti-graft body announced that eight people have been arrested, suspected of being connected to corruption linked to the renovation of the Wang Fuk Court complex, where the fire erupted and spread with terrifying speed.
Filipino Workers Among the Victims
Among those caught in the tragedy were dozens of Filipino domestic workers.
Nineteen Filipinos remain missing, according to Edwina Antonio of Bethune House, a refuge center for migrant women.
Families back home and in Hong Kong wait for answers — hoping, praying, but bracing for the worst.
A Fire That Engulfed Lives Within Minutes
The disaster began on Wednesday afternoon. Flames surged through seven of the eight 32-story blocks, swallowing entire homes and trapping thousands.
Hong Kong Security Chief Chris Tang delivered the grim update:
“We do not rule out the possibility that more bodies could be discovered.”
He confirmed that the complex’s fire alarms were not working properly. Compounding the danger, the building had been wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and flammable green mesh due to ongoing renovations — turning the entire structure into a deadly trap.
At least 79 people, including 12 firefighters, were injured.
Residents Face the Ashes of Their Lives
By Friday, dozens of residents stood outside the charred towers — some weeping, some silent, all heartbroken.
One survivor, identified only as Miss Yu, pointed toward the blackened windows of the 10th floor.
“This is my home… or where my home used to be. I want to go back, but my home is probably gone. Every time I look there, my heart feels so heavy.”
Families faced an unimaginable task: identifying bodies from photographs taken by rescue teams.
So far, only 39 of the 128 dead have been identified.
Mirra Wong, searching for her father, fought back tears.
“I recognized a picture… it might be his body. My dad is still missing.”
A friend of another missing resident spoke quietly, her voice trembling:
“Rationally… there is no hope. But the bodies still have to be found. It’s too painful. When it’s someone you know, the pain is beyond words.”
Volunteers Step In as the Community Unites
As the city mourns, hundreds of volunteers have stepped up — delivering diapers, food, clothing, and comfort.
A massive support camp now stands outside a shopping mall near the ruins, operated in shifts around the clock.
The fire has drawn comparisons to the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London, and to Hong Kong’s own 1948 warehouse fire that killed 176.
Warnings Were Ignored
Shockingly, residents had raised concerns last year about the renovation hazards — including the flammability of the green mesh covering the scaffolding.
Authorities reportedly told them they faced “relatively low fire risks.”
Now, leaflets demanding an independent investigation are being handed out at train stations.
Volunteers like Miles are calling for accountability:
“We need a total overhaul of the system. We need to look into corruption in construction across Hong Kong. Regular people shouldn’t have to fear for their lives at home.”
More Arrests Follow
The Independent Commission Against Corruption revealed that among those arrested were an engineering consultant, a scaffolding subcontractor, and an intermediary.
Police also arrested two directors and an engineering consultant from Prestige Construction, the firm responsible for Wang Fuk Court’s renovations.
They are being investigated for manslaughter over the use of unsafe materials — including flammable foam boards that blocked windows.
Prestige has not responded to repeated requests for comment.
A City in Mourning
Indonesia’s consulate confirmed that two Indonesian domestic workers were also among the dead.
With more than 368,000 domestic workers in Hong Kong — most from the Philippines and Indonesia — the tragedy has shaken migrant communities deeply.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced a HK$300 million fund to help affected residents, while major companies have pledged donations for relief.
But for many, no amount of money can soothe the pain.
Because behind every number —
every statistic —
is a home lost, a life taken, a family shattered.
