Photo courtesy of Balita

 

A Filipina domestic helper, Vame Mariz Verador, bravely faced a massive fire at her apartment complex in Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po district, Hong Kong, while carrying a two-year-old child and assisting a senior citizen employer. In an emotional interview with GMA News' "24 Oras" on December 5, Verador recounted her ordeal from the 17th floor, where she smelled smoke as she descended, causing her to panic. Despite the chaos, she held onto the hope of returning home to her family in the Philippines.

 

Verador described the terrifying scene, noting that her neighboring building was nearly consumed by flames, and her own building was severely damaged. She expressed immense gratitude to God for her survival, wanting desperately to see her children again. Rowena Paril, another OFW who escaped from the ninth floor of a separate building, credited a phone call from her employer for saving her life, as she was unaware of the fire due to a lack of signal and alarms.

 

Rhodora Alcaraz, another Filipina domestic helper, was also pulled to safety, though she remains in recovery after inhaling smoke while rescuing a three-month-old baby. These stories highlight the bravery and quick thinking of the domestic helpers during the dire situation. The incident raises questions about safety measures and communication systems in high-rise buildings in the area, particularly for foreign domestic workers.

 

Experts underline the need for improved fire safety protocols, emphasizing the importance of well-functioning alarms and communication signals. Moving forward, investigations will aim to determine the cause of the fire and assess the safety standards of such residential structures. The local authorities are expected to review and enhance emergency preparedness protocols to prevent similar incidents, reported Balita.

 

Key Takeaways

Vame Mariz Verador and other Filipina helpers showed heroism during the Hong Kong fire.

Lack of alarms and signals posed significant risks to residents, prompting safety concerns.

Authorities will investigate and aim to boost safety measures in response.

 

Click here for more Philippines stories

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Balita 2025-12-08

 

 

 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

she was unaware of the fire due to a lack of signal and alarms.

So much to say about this fire, not least the corruption involved, but I'll pick on this item.  The contractor accountable for the fire alarm apparently told the fire brigade that the works ongoing would not affect the fire alarm.  Oops.  They are all arrested now.  Rowena is one lucky girl.

 

https://www.thestandard.com.hk/hong-kong-news/article/318079/Fire-chief-defends-tactics-and-confirms-alarm-failure-as-Tai-Po-death-toll-reaches-128