The Chan sisters, aged 65, 62 and 59, eat noodles and milk tea for breakfast while sitting on the sidewalk. They spent two nights sleeping on mats and blankets in Kwong Fook Civic Centre, in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district. They are the residents of Wang Fook Court, the housing complex that witnessed the biggest tragedy in Hong Kong’s modern history that broke out Wednesday afternoon, a massive fire that killed at least 128 people and injured 79 others, dozens of them in critical condition, according to the latest tally from authorities offered on Friday.
“We were warned by a neighbor who knocked on our door. The alarms did not go off,” says the eldest, moving the contents of her plate with chopsticks. “I don’t know what would have happened to us,” she muttered. They are tired, but above all they are dismayed by what they see as neglect. Shock has given way to discontent around Wang Fook Court, where questions multiply about how the fire could consume seven of the eight skyscrapers that make up the project in a matter of minutes. Neighbors are demanding responsibilities.
Although the causes of the fire are still unknown – there are several ongoing investigations – police are investigating the netting used to cover the buildings that were under construction, and polystyrene found in several blocks, as the reason the fire spread so quickly. Bamboo scaffolding, a material still used in construction in Hong Kong, has also been cited as a feeding agent. The local government had proposed gradually replacing this type of cane scaffolding with metal ones, but some unions opposed banning this material, due to its flexibility, according to several media outlets in Hong Kong.
Security Minister Chris Tang explained on Friday that the fire originated on the ground floor of the building called Wang Cheong House, and that it quickly spread vertically. Tang pointed out that it was the presence of polystyrene sheets (highly flammable) stuck to the windows that led to an unusual acceleration of the spread of the fire, as, when they burned, they generated temperatures so high that they shattered the windows, allowing very intense flames to penetrate the interior of the homes. Tang also reported that tests conducted on the scaffolding network confirmed that this material is not flammable.
The urbanization renewal plan, which began last year and is scheduled to last until the middle of next year, was worth HK$330 million (about 36.6 million euros) and was opposed by a large portion of the population, several of them confirmed to El Pais.
According to the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning PostThe company responsible for the work, Prestige Construction and Engineering, was convicted in 2023 of two safety violations on a project, according to records from the city Labor Department, which only provides information on its website from the past two years. Local authorities revealed late Thursday that the company has 11 other projects underway in private residential projects, which have already been inspected. A day earlier, police arrested two directors and a company consultant accused of gross negligence.
Early Friday, flames were still visible at the top of one of the 31-story towers. Although firefighters reported that the fire was under control, during the night the light was turned back on in one of the houses. Rescue teams continue to work tirelessly, even as hopes of finding survivors inside the skyscrapers dwindle.
Deputy Director of Fire Services, Derek Armstrong Chan, said early in the morning that the number of missing people could only be determined after search and rescue operations were completed. On Wednesday, the authorities spoke of about 300 people missing, a number that has not been updated since then, despite the high number of dead and wounded.
The Choi couple have been sleeping in a tent since they were evacuated. They appreciate the “tireless” work of firefighters and hundreds of volunteers who mobilized to help those affected. Solidarity has flooded social media, with dozens of groups created to coordinate support and distribute supplies. “I found everything I needed at the center,” says Ms. Choi. However, he shares his concern about the future. “Even when we are able to return home, we will not feel safe,” he protests.
The insurer of the burning complex, China Taiping Insurance Company, is offering up to HK$2 billion (€222 million) to compensate for property damage and damage caused by the fires. The policy provides public liability coverage of up to HK$20 million (€2.22 million) per death, according to the SCMP.
Hong Kong, a former British colony that London returned to Beijing in 1997, is one of the most densely populated areas on the planet, with a high concentration of high-rise residential buildings and buildings very close together. It is estimated that in Wang Fuc Court, which has 1,984 houses, about 4,600 residents live in apartments ranging from 37 to 46 square metres. According to 2021 Census data, more than a third of renters are 65 years of age or older, and between a quarter and a third fall in the age group of 40 to 64 years. The group of buildings is part of the government’s subsidized housing program and has been occupied since 1983.