Hong Kong police have confirmed 168 people died in a massive apartment complex fire last November – seven more than previously announced. The blaze at Wang Fuk Court, the deadliest fire the city has seen in decades, has led to more than 30 arrests.
Hong Kong Apartment Fire Death Toll Reaches 168
The ages of the victims ranged from six months to 98 years old, according to a police statement released Thursday. Of those who perished, 58 were male and 110 were female. Many of the victims were elderly residents who had lived in the complex for decades.
Among the deceased were 10 domestic workers – nine from Indonesia and one from the Philippines – as well as five construction workers and two interior decorators.
Built in the 1980s, Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district housed approximately 4,600 people, according to a 2021 census. Nearly 40% of the residents were 65 or older.
Firefighters deployed to control the blaze included 37-year-old Ho Wai-ho, who died during the firefighting operation. Four of the deceased were pronounced dead after being taken to hospital, while 164 people were recovered at the scene.
More than 30 people have been arrested in connection with the fire on suspicion of manslaughter, fraud, or corruption, city leader John Lee said Wednesday.
Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the blaze. Officials previously indicated that substandard mesh placed outside the apartment blocks’ windows may have contributed to the fire’s rapid spread, which raged for more than a day.
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