Hong Kong’s leaders held a solemn ceremony on Saturday to mourn the victims of the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex fire, which has claimed at least 128 lives. Officials warned the toll could rise further, with more than 200 people still unaccounted for days after the tragedy.
Authorities have arrested 11 individuals as part of an investigation into possible corruption and unsafe renovation practices, including the use of hazardous materials. Rescue operations at the Tai Po district site concluded Friday, but police continue searching the charred buildings for additional remains.
The blaze erupted Wednesday afternoon, rapidly engulfing seven of the complex’s eight 32-story blocks, which were covered in bamboo scaffolding, green mesh, and foam insulation. Officials confirmed that fire alarms were not functioning properly at the estate, home to more than 4,600 residents.
Hong Kong leader John Lee, joined by officials and civil servants dressed in black, observed three minutes of silence outside government offices, where flags were lowered to half-mast. They later signed a condolence book for the dead.
At Wang Fuk Court, disaster victim identification teams equipped with oxygen masks and helmets prepared to continue their grim work. Families were shown photographs of victims taken by rescue workers. Security Chief Tang said only 39 of the 128 victims have been identified so far.
The government has pledged a HK$300 million ($39 million) relief fund, while major Chinese companies have offered donations. Hundreds of volunteers have mobilized to provide aid, setting up a support camp near a shopping mall to distribute food, clothing, and essentials.
Among the dead were at least two Indonesian domestic workers, according to the country’s consulate. Dozens of Filipino domestic workers were also affected, with 19 still missing, said Edwina Antonio, executive director of Bethune House, a migrant women’s refuge.
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