Hong Kong  inferno latest,  44 dead, 279 missing, 3 arrested

 

 

Hong Kong has been hit by its deadliest fire in decades after a massive blaze tore through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Tai Po, killing at least 44 people and leaving 279 missing as of Thursday morning. The fire, which erupted Wednesday afternoon on external scaffolding of a 32-storey tower undergoing renovation, rapidly climbed the building’s bamboo scaffolding and construction netting before leaping to adjacent towers — ultimately engulfing seven of the estate’s eight blocks.

 

Flames burned through the night, with firefighters battling extreme heat, collapsing debris and falling scaffolding while residents screamed for help from smoke-filled apartments. Forty victims were declared dead at the scene; dozens more suffered severe burn and inhalation injuries. Nearly 900 residents, many elderly, were evacuated to emergency shelters as the inferno raged on.

 

Police arrested three men — two directors and an engineering consultant of the contracted construction firm — on suspicion of manslaughter. Senior superintendent Eileen Chung said there was “reason to believe” the company showed “gross negligence,” after investigators found flammable Styrofoam materials installed outside lift-lobby windows on every floor of the one tower that did not burn. Officials also suspect that materials on the building exteriors failed fire-resistance standards, explaining the unusually fast spread.

 

Fire authorities reported that four towers were “coming under control” by Thursday morning, though conditions remained dangerous. Firefighters deployed more than 200 vehicles and around 100 ambulances, fighting from ladder trucks as temperatures inside the buildings remained too high to enter safely. A 37-year-old firefighter died in the operation.

 

Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed condolences and urged authorities to minimise further casualties. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said the disaster would take priority and suspended all public campaigning for the 7 December Legislative Council elections pending further decisions.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Blaze spread rapidly across seven towers of a Tai Po housing complex, killing 44.

• Three construction-firm leaders arrested on suspicion of manslaughter amid claims of unsafe materials.

• Nearly 900 residents evacuated as firefighters battled extreme heat, falling debris and collapsing scaffolding.

 

SOURCE: AP

 

 

Absolute tragedy.

Bamboo scaffolding surrounded by flammable materials forming chimney to encourage the rapid spread of fire.

Expect the death toll to be in the hundreds of not more.

Thousands upon thousands of people live in these towers.

 

Buildings described as social housing with a majority of residents  elderly, age 65+.

Reports say that styrofoam  inserts were put into window spaces. One would think that the lessons of  Grenfell Tower would have been learnt.