94 Confirmed Dead in Hong Kong Fire; Three Held for Manslaughter

The death toll from a devastating Hong Kong fire has tragically climbed to 94, with fears mounting for many still missing. The inferno, which started on the outer scaffolding of a 32-story building, swiftly engulfed six additional towers in the Wang Fuk Court residential complex. The rapid spread, apparently aided by strong winds, affected a large population of nearly 4,800 residents, many of them elderly, living in approximately 2,000 apartments. The entire complex was undergoing renovation work when the fire broke out. Firefighters spent a second day battling the remnants of the blaze, as search teams conducted painstaking door-to-door checks of the damaged units. A key aspect of the ongoing investigation is the extensive use of bamboo scaffolding, a common building material in Hong Kong known for its affordability and ease of use but highly susceptible to fire. Experts note that bamboo burns far more readily than metal scaffolding. Evidence suggests that the burning of bamboo, along with plastic netting and Styrofoam covers, significantly contributed to the fire’s ferocity and swift movement across the buildings. In response to this crisis, government officials are reportedly exploring a move towards mandatory metal scaffolding and are implementing immediate inspections of all renovation projects to ensure compliance with safety regulations. Three men, including directors from the construction company involved, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, with investigations focusing on whether exterior materials met required fire-resistance standards. The city’s anti-corruption body has also initiated its own investigation into the renovation project.