Hong Kong authorities are continuing to search the remaining apartments in the Wang Fook Court apartment complex, which was hit by a massive fire that killed at least 146 people and displaced hundreds, reports „Reuters“, reports News.bg.
The victims are now trying to adapt to temporary housing.
Police have already completed searches in four of the seven towers affected by the deadliest fire in the city in over 75 years. The operation found bodies of people trapped in stairwells and rooftops as they tried to escape the flames.
Thousands of residents gathered to pay their respects to the dead, including at least nine Indonesian domestic workers and one from the Philippines. Vigils were also planned in Tokyo and London. About 40 people are still missing.
The fire broke out last Wednesday and quickly spread to the exterior of apartments under renovation. The cause of the incident is under investigation. Amid public anger over missed warnings and unsafe construction practices, Beijing has warned it will crack down on any “anti-China” protests. One person who took part in a petition for an independent inquiry has been arrested.
The remaining buildings to be searched are described as “difficult”, with a senior police officer saying the final stage of the operation could take weeks. The apartment blocks were home to more than 4,000 people, and those who managed to escape are trying to rebuild their daily lives.
More than 1,100 people have been moved to temporary housing, while another 680 are staying in hotels and hostels. Due to the loss of personal belongings, authorities are providing emergency assistance of HK$10,000 (about US$1,284) per household, as well as assistance with issuing new identity cards, passports and marriage certificates.
The fire at “Wang Fook Court“ is the deadliest in Hong Kong since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse fire. The incident comes days before the city's parliamentary elections. Authorities have arrested 11 people in the investigation for possible corruption and the use of hazardous materials during renovation work.
At the time of the fire, the building was wrapped in green netting and bamboo scaffolding, and the walls were covered with insulating foam. Fire alarms in the complex also failed to work properly, adding to the scale of the tragedy.