Hong Kong mourns as death toll from Tai Po inferno rises to 151

HONG KONG: Crowds of mourners gathered across Hong Kong on Sunday, paying tribute to victims of the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, which has now claimed 151 lives, making it one of the deadliest residential fires in recent regional history.

Long lines of people dressed in dark clothing and carrying flowers stretched over a kilometre near the charred estate. Many waited hours to place tributes, turning a nearby park into a focal point of public mourning.

Police and Fire Services teams continued search operations across seven residential blocks. Five buildings—Hung Yan, Hung To, Hung Kin, Hung Tai, and Hung Shing—have been fully searched, while two others—Hung Cheong and Hung Sun—remain partially inaccessible due to structural safety concerns.

Chief Superintendent Tsang Suk-yin reported tearfully that eight more bodies were discovered in Hung Cheong Court, five of which had not been previously reported.

Recovered remains, whether partial or complete, are being catalogued to assist families in identification.

As of 1 December, 104 of the deceased have been formally identified, with 39 sets of remains still pending identification.

Authorities also reported four cases of suspected missing construction workers: two confirmed dead, one hospitalised, and one still missing.

Investigation Uncovers Fire Safety Violations and Corruption

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has arrested 14 people in connection with the fire, citing use of non-fire-resistant safety nets during construction.

After typhoon damage in July, 2,300 rolls of substandard netting were installed across all eight buildings.

Later, compliant nets were installed in visible areas to deceive inspectors.

Fire investigators confirmed that seven of 20 retrieved scaffolding net samples failed fire resistance tests, and investigators believe these flammable materials contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze.

Victims, Relief Efforts, and Ongoing Support

As of the morning of 1 December, 79 injured people were being treated in hospitals: 12 in critical condition, six serious, 25 stable, and 36 discharged. All 12 injured firefighters have now been discharged.

Foreign nationals were among the casualties: the Philippine Consulate confirmed one deceased, one injured, and two missing, while the Indonesian Consulate reported nine deaths, with 36 unaccounted for.

Mourning rituals took place outside the estate, with offerings, photographs, chanting, and incense burning, as police maintained order.

Authorities have provided emergency aid to 1,760 households, temporary accommodations to 2,100 individuals, and outlined longer-term housing plans including 2,000 transitional housing units and 1,000 short-term units.

The government has also promoted social worker support per household, and applications for living subsidies and condolence payments are ongoing.

Political and Social Reactions

Public calls for transparency have intensified. Several arrests were made in connection with online and on-site activities related to the tragedy, including Chinese University student Miles Kwan, former district councillor Cheung Kam-hung, and a female volunteer surnamed Li.

District councillor Wong Bik-kiu has called for further investigations into the building’s owners’ corporation, highlighting possible long-standing neglect of fire safety systems despite a maintenance project approved with a HK$330 million budget.