Scores of families are still missing after Hong Kong’s worst blaze in decades engulfed hospitals on Friday as firefighters searched the last apartment block of the housing estate to burn, with the death toll now at least 94.
Flames engulfed Wang Fuk Court in the northern district of Tai Po on Wednesday afternoon and quickly spread among its eight buildings, turning into an inferno that burned for more than 36 hours.
Authorities began investigating what sparked the fire, including examining the presence of bamboo scaffolding and plastic netting wrapped around the structures as part of a major renovation.
On Friday workers carried black body bags from the burnt apartment blocks, with an AFP reporter counting four in the space of 15 minutes.
Vehicles unloaded multiple bodies at a mortuary in nearby Sha Tin, another reporter saw, with families expected to arrive in the afternoon for identification.
Many people are still missing, although the exact number has not been updated as of early Thursday.
At a hospital in Sha Tin, a woman surnamed Wong was searching for her sister-in-law and sister-in-law’s twin sister, without luck.
“We still can’t find them. So we will go to different hospitals to ask if they have good news,” the 38-year-old told AFP in tears.
“We were already waiting at the Prince of Wales Hospital on the first day but there was no news. We also came here yesterday.”
On Friday the authorities said that more than 50 people were still hospitalized, with 12 in a critical condition and 28 in a serious condition.
The last contact anyone had with the twins was on Wednesday, Wong said, less than an hour before the fire was reported.
“One building caught fire and spread to two other blocks in less than 15 minutes,” a 77-year-old eyewitness surnamed Mui told AFP.
“It was very quick. It was red hot, I shudder to think about it.”
The fire service said earlier it would carry out search and rescue responses to the remaining 25 calls for help and enter all apartments on the property by 9 am (0100 GMT) on Friday.
Little wisps of white smoke were still billowing from the property, with authorities saying that by morning the fire had been contained to four of the nearly 2,000 units of the sprawling complex.
– Investigations initiated –
The fire was the deadliest in Hong Kong since 1948, when an explosion followed by a fire killed at least 135 people.
Deadly fires were once a regular scourge in densely populated Hong Kong, especially in poorer neighborhoods, but improved safety measures have made them far less common.
Hong Kong’s anti-corruption body said Thursday it had launched a probe into renovation work at the complex, hours after police said they arrested three men on suspicion of negligently leaving foam packaging at the site of the fire.
The residents of the property told AFP that they did not hear any fire alarm and had to go door to door to alert neighbors of the danger.
Hong Kong authorities will immediately inspect the area of all houses undergoing major work after the disaster, city leader Lee said Thursday, with the city’s number two official Eric Chan adding that it was “imperative to speed up the full transition to metal scaffolding”.
Of the 94 people confirmed dead as of 6:00 am local time (22:00 GMT Thursday), one was a 37-year-old firefighter and two were Indonesians working as migrant domestic workers.
The Hong Kong government said it was setting up a HK$300 million ($38.5 million) fund to help victims of the fires.
The city authorities said that they have opened nine shelters and are organizing temporary housing and emergency funds for those who have lost their homes.
Activities surrounding Hong Kong’s legislative elections, which will take place on December 7, have been suspended.
– ‘Everyone gives support’ –
Some of the residents in nearby blocks who had been evacuated as a precaution were allowed back in their homes on Thursday afternoon.
A spontaneous community effort to help firefighters and those displaced had by Friday become quite a busy machine.
In a nearby public square, separate supply stations for clothing, food and household supplies, as well as booths providing medical and psychological care, had been set up.
So much was donated that the organizers put out a call on social media saying that there was no need for more.
“It’s really touching,” said Stone Ngai, 38, one of the organizers of an impromptu aid station, on Thursday.
“The spirit of Hong Kong people is that when one is in trouble, everyone gives support… This shows that Hong Kong people are full of love.”
twa-hol/reb/jm