For the first time since a catastrophic blaze tore through a Tai Po apartment complex in November, survivors are being allowed to return to what remains of their homes a moment many have dreaded for months. Among them is 78‑year‑old Keung Mak, who knows the devastation awaiting him but says he must go back.
A photo sent by his social worker had already shown the destruction: the ceiling burned so severely that steel rebar was exposed, broken tiles scattered across the floor, and structural reinforcements needed to prevent collapse. “My heart is heavy,” Mak said. “I didn’t expect the first floor would be burned like this.”
The fire Hong Kong’s deadliest in decades swept through seven of eight buildings in the Tai Po complex, killing 168 people and displacing thousands. Beginning Monday, residents will enter their units in staggered groups to retrieve belongings, a process expected to continue into early May.
Authorities have yet to release findings on the cause of the blaze. In the meantime, survivors have been scattered across the city, many living in temporary housing while they wait for clarity on long‑term resettlement.
Older residents face steep physical and emotional challenges
The return is especially daunting for elderly residents, who made up more than a third of the complex’s 4,600 former occupants. With elevators still out of service, some seniors have been training to climb the 31‑storey buildings, preparing themselves for the physically demanding journey back into the ruins.
Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk said more than 1,400 registered returnees are aged 65 or older, highlighting the scale of the challenge ahead.
The blackened exteriors of the buildings remain a stark reminder of the tragedy and for many, the climb back inside will be as emotionally painful as it is physically exhausting.
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