LONDON — The demise toll from the massive fire at a residential residence complicated in Hong Kong rose to 128 as of Friday, as search and rescue efforts continued.
Hong Kong Secretary for Safety Chris Tang Ping-keung introduced the brand new demise toll on Friday however warned that extra our bodies should be discovered.
Three males related to the development agency in control of the renovation on the housing complicated have been arrested and are below investigation in reference to the hearth, Hong Kong police stated throughout a press convention early Thursday morning.
Police suspect the mesh used through the renovation was lower than customary, and the corporate put in a considerable amount of Styrofoam within the home windows and the outer partitions which acted as an accelerant as soon as the hearth started, police stated.
The mesh and the Styrofoam had been discovered within the one constructing that wasn’t impacted by the hearth, police stated.
Greater than 140 hearth engines and over 800 firefighters and paramedics had been deployed on Wednesday to answer the hearth, with drones additionally in use, officers stated.
Firefighters spray water on flames as a serious hearth burns via a number of residence blocks on the Wang Fuk Court docket residential property in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Nov. 27, 2025.
Peter Parks/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Some 279 individuals have been reported lacking, Hong Kong chief John Lee stated throughout a press briefing earlier Thursday.
“The fireplace has resulted in lots of casualties, together with a fireman who died within the line of responsibility,” Lee stated in an earlier assertion posted to social media. “I categorical my deep disappointment and my deep condolences to the households of the lifeless and the injured.”
Chinese language President Xi Jinping expressed his condolences and sympathies to the victims’ households and people affected in an announcement.
He stated he ordered authorities to “do every part attainable to make sure search and rescue operations, medical therapy for the injured, and post-disaster reduction, and to offer needed help to related departments and native authorities to reduce casualties and losses.”
Thick smoke and flames rise as a serious hearth engulfs a number of residence blocks on the Wang Fuk Court docket residential property in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on November 26, 2025.
Yan Zhao/AFP by way of Getty Photos
ABC Information’ Karson Yiu, Ellie Kaufman, Will Gretsky and Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
