Hong Kong begins 3-day mourning after fire kills 128 people, with thousands paying respects as investigation reveals malfunctioning alarm systems
HONG KONG: An outpouring of grief swept Hong Kong as thousands paid respects for the 128 people killed in one of the city’s deadliest fires.
The official three-day mourning period began with people flocking to a park near the charred shell of Wang Fuk Court residential complex.
Many mourners dressed in dark colours and left white and yellow flowers with handwritten messages of remembrance.
A 69-year-old woman surnamed Wong counted off a list of deceased neighbours and friends from her four decades living in the estate.
“It was a grandmother with an 18-month-old baby… I was very close with them,” Wong told AFP.
Resident Wong Kuen-mui, a 67-year-old insurance worker, struggled with losing forty years of memories in the blaze.
“All the old photos (of my children) are gone, it’s hard to recall what they looked like as kids, and that’s the most painful,” she said.
Eighteen condolence points were set up across the Chinese finance hub for the public to pay respects.
City leader John Lee and top ministers stood in silence for three minutes with flags flown at half-mast.
Celebratory government events will be cancelled or postponed during the mourning period.
Police confirmed the death toll remained at 128 with 44 victims awaiting body identification.
Rescuers finished searching two of the eight tower blocks and found no new bodies.
Around 150 people remain missing and cannot be contacted according to authorities.
More than 40 people remained hospitalised with 19 in critical condition.
The anti-corruption watchdog arrested eleven people total over the blaze after three additional arrests on Saturday.
Flames spread quickly through the housing estate on Wednesday afternoon, engulfing seven of eight high-rises.
Fire services chief Andy Yeung revealed alarm systems in all eight apartment blocks “were malfunctioning”.
Residents reported not hearing any fire alarms and going door-to-door to alert neighbours.
The Buildings Department ordered temporary suspension of works on 30 private building projects across the city.
China launched a campaign against “major fire risks and hazards” in high-rise buildings.
The Philippine Consulate General confirmed an overseas Filipino worker died in the fire.
This marks Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze since 1948 when an explosion and fire killed at least 135 people. – AFP
