Concerns are emerging regarding potential corruption and negligence linked to the renovation of a residential complex where at least 128 individuals lost their lives in a devastating fire in Hong Kong.
The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at the Wang Fu Court complex, located in the northern suburbs of Hong Kong, with flames consuming seven out of its eight towers. The complex housed roughly 4,800 residents, some of whom had raised safety alarms about the renovations more than a year prior to the blaze.
Three men from a construction firm were apprehended on suspect charges of manslaughter and gross negligence. While they were released on bail initially, the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission later took them into custody, noting their significant involvement in the renovation work. Earlier, authorities had also arrested several individuals connected to the project.
Although the police have not confirmed the identity of the construction firm, documents available on the homeowners association’s site implicate Prestige Construction and Engineering. Following the fire, police confiscated a box of documents from the company as they tracked down calls made to it.
Authorities are also examining the materials used in the scaffolding and foam panels that covered the windows, looking into how these may have contributed to the fire’s escalation.
Residents expressed safety concerns prior to the fire
Nearly a year ahead of the fire, several residents had reported issues to the Hong Kong authorities regarding the safety of the scaffolding, specifically the netting used. Records seen by The Associated Press show these concerns were formally submitted.
The Labor Department acknowledged receiving such complaints and stated they had conducted 16 inspections since July 2024, alongside multiple warnings issued to contractors to ensure adherence to fire safety protocols. Interestingly, an on-site check took place just a week before the fire erupted.
The Labor Ministry examined the quality certificate of the safety net and found it complied with existing standards, though it hadn’t undergone inspection before.
Initial findings suggested that the fire ignited within the scaffolding netting located at the lower level of one building. This was quickly followed by the foam panels catching fire and facilitating the rapid spread of the flames, as noted by city safety official Chris Tan.
“The fire ignited the foam panels, breaking the glass and allowing it to spread rapidly indoors,” Tan explained.
On Saturday, the Labor Department revealed charges were filed against the construction company for breaching safety regulations concerning high-altitude work, leading to fines totaling HK$30,000 ($3,850). In 2023, the company had previously been penalized for unrelated offenses.
Andy Yong, head of the Hong Kong Fire Department, reported that among other issues, some fire alarms in the complex, particularly those in homes with many elderly residents, failed to activate when tested. However, he didn’t detail how widespread the issue was.
The fire took a while to control
Firefighters struggled to manage the blaze, taking around a day to gain control, and the fire wasn’t fully extinguished until Friday morning—about 40 hours post-eruption.
Deputy Commissioner of the Fire Department, Derek Armstrong-Chan, noted that responders focused on apartments that had made emergency calls during the fire, yet they faced challenges getting to them as the situation escalated.
In total, 79 individuals were injured, including 12 firefighters, and tragically, one firefighter lost their life.
Even two days after the initial fire, smoke continued to emerge from the building due to sporadic flare-ups.
More casualties may yet be revealed
Rescue crews have completed searches for survivors, but officials noted that additional bodies might still be found.
As of Saturday, 44 out of the recovered 128 bodies remained unidentified, with around 150 individuals still unaccounted for.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Indonesia reported that among the deceased were two Indonesian migrant workers, while approximately 11 migrants employed as domestic helpers at the complex remain missing.
On site, a woman named Sarah Yu held her young son, Dominic, as she honored those lost by laying white roses in a small children’s play area.
Flowers, including white roses and lilies, were placed at a memorial site, drawing emotional responses from families identifying their loved ones through photographs. A sign amidst the flowers read, “Over 128 innocent lives, what did they do wrong?”
In a show of solidarity, many city employees lowered flags in remembrance, and Chief Executive John Lee led a moment of silence from the government headquarters, all staff dressed in black.
This tragic fire marks the worst in decades for Hong Kong, surpassing a 1996 incident in Kowloon that claimed 41 lives. Historically, a warehouse fire in 1948 resulted in 176 casualties.
