Recalling the start of the fire, an elderly resident said she was alone at home, taking a nap, at that time. Hearing the alarm sound with smoke coming out, she immediately called the estate office for an inquiry and fled in panic. An Indian resident pointed out that she heard from her neighbours that the fire source was suspected to be caused by someone smoking and gradually spread to the whole scaffolding.
The No.5 Alarm Fire in Tai Po, Photo by Bastille Post
Residents are waiting at the scene for upcoming information after escaping from their home, Photo by Bastille Post
The site of the fire, Wang Fuk Court is undergoing extensive repair currently. Eight buildings are surrounded by scaffolding. According to the website of the Incorporated Owners of Wang Fuk Court, as of the 10th of this month, the buildings are also undergoing interior wall painting, exterior wall plastering and spraying, and laying mosaic tiles.
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The No.5 Alarm Fire in Tai Po, Photo by Bastille Post
Residents are waiting at the scene for upcoming information after escaping from their home, Photo by Bastille Post
Ms. Ng, Photo by Bastille Post
Jaur Harjit, Photo by Bastille Post
Mr. Wong, Photo by Bastille Post
Residents have been evacuated to the nearby area. Photo by Bastille Post
The community hall is now open to residents for shelter. Photo by Bastille Post
Ms. Ng, Photo by Bastille Post
Ms. Ng, a resident of the No.3 Building, said that the incident occurred around 3 p.m. At that time, she was taking a nap in her house. Hearing the fire alarm sound with smoke coming out, she immediately called the estate office for inquiry. Realizing a fire accident was happening, she fled at once. "Hearing the fire alarm sound and seeing the smoke, I immediately decided to flee. Fortunately, I made the right choice." said by Ms. Ng.
Jaur Harjit, Photo by Bastille Post
Jaur Harjit, an Indian resident of the No.8 Building, pointed out that she, her husband and son were all inside the house when the incident happened. While her son was sleeping, her husband heard the alarm sound and noticed some smoke was coming out. Realizing it might be the signal of a fire accident, he fled immediately. "We are lucky enough to flee at the last minute," she said. It was the first time for her to encounter a fire alarm in Hong Kong. Even her daughter was very panicked about the situation. According to Jaur Harjit, she heard from her neighbours saying that the fire source was suspected to be caused by someone smoking and gradually spread to the whole scaffolding.
Mr. Wong, Photo by Bastille Post
The resident, Mr. Wong, said that he was worried and came back to check the situation of his home upon hearing the news of the fire alarm. Fortunately, all his family members were out working, and the fire just temporarily affected the building he lived in. He was still observing the scene with anxiety and would need to stay at his friend's home tonight.
Residents have been evacuated to the nearby area. Photo by Bastille Post
The resident, Mr. Gaan, said that he felt quite nervous about looking for his family. In his eyes, since the buildings had all been surrounded by scaffolding for extensive repair, "if there were workers smoking or any other situation just happened, it would catch fire easily." Some residents also said that the fire broke out first at Wang Cheong House, and then spread to Wang Sun House and Wang Tai House, with most of the units affected as well.
The community hall is now open to residents for shelter. Photo by Bastille Post
Today (May 4) marked the final day of the first round for Wang Fuk residents to go upstairs and retrieve their belongings.
Ms. Au, Photo by Bastille Post
Ms. Au, a resident of Wang Tai House, said she had been informed that most of her belongings had been destroyed in the fire, so she did not feel panicked or anxious about going in. "But once we got inside, the unit was such a mess that we didn't even know where to start," she recalled. "We spent three hours just walking around, unsure where to begin looking." She had hoped to find her wedding ring, but it was nowhere to be found.
The inner condition of Ms. Au's unit, Photo by Bastille Post
Even though she knew her home had been burned to ashes, seeing the once-familiar park and lobby transformed into something unrecognizable was still heartbreaking. She described feeling as though she was stepping into a place she had never been before.
The inner condition of Ms. Au's unit, Photo by Bastille Post
For Ms. Au, her unit was more than just a home. It was the first place she and her husband lived after getting married, and the place where their three children were born and raised. Over 11 years, they built their lives from scratch there, making every corner of the unit deeply meaningful.
She added that her children had hoped to find keepsakes left to them by relatives who had passed away. "Their great-grandmother gave a baby trike, but when we found it, only the metal frame remained." Ms. Au and her family planned to return to the unit in the future, not just to search for more belongings, but also to say a proper goodbye. She shared that her children have been expressing their grief through drawing and other means of creation these days. With the assistance of social workers and psychologists, she and her husband are gently guiding their children to accept that their home disappeared overnight.
The safe retrieved by Ms. Au from her unit, Photo by Bastille Post
Near the mailboxes in the building's lobby, Ms. Au placed flowers, food, and drinks to mourn the neighbors who lost their lives in the tragedy. She said the government's requirement for residents to choose a resettlement solution by the end of August had put immense pressure on her and created significant difficulties. For now, she said, she could only "take it one step at a time." She hoped to learn the cause of the fire and understand why the building had been so severely damaged, so that such a tragedy could be prevented in the future. She also hoped that meetings could be held for residents to voice their wishes and receive clear explanations about the next steps.
Mr. Mak, Photo by Bastille Post
Another resident, Mr. Mak, who is over 70 years old, moved into Wang Shing House in 1983. As a designer by trade, he designed all the furniture in his home himself. Today, he retrieved seven loads of furniture from his unit. "Nevertheless, I couldn't take any of the large pieces — the sofas, tables, and chairs were all made of Thai rosewood," he said. Mr. Mak said his home was in relatively good condition, just a little dusty. "I was worried for days, but thankfully nothing was missing." Although he managed to take back his cash and some jewelry, he forgot to collect his paintings this time. "I'll see if I get a chance to return in the coming days," he said.
Mr. Mak retrieved seven loads of furniture from his unit. Photo by Bastille Post
Photo by Bastille Post
Mr. Mak hoped the government could arrange for some unfurnished apartments with basic renovations for their resettlement. "I'm worried about running into dishonest renovation workers," he explained. "I don't mind paying. I just want the government to handle the simple renovations. We're already over 70, and the younger generation has to work. We no longer have the energy to deal with these things." His voice choked with emotion as he thanked the many kind people who had helped him since the fire. However, he added, "The contractors and consultants have been very problematic. The government departments shirked their responsibilities at the hearings and ignored the issues that needed fixing. That's deeply unsatisfactory."
Ms. Chong, Photo by Bastille Post
Ms. Chong, who lives in Wang Tai House, said her home was in relatively good condition. Many police officers helped her carry her belongings, making the process less tiring. As a painting enthusiast for over a decade, she brought more than 30 paintings out of her home, each with its own meaning. "They mainly show scenery from my travels," she said. Her favorite is a landscape of Vienna, though she couldn't show it to reporters right away, as it would have to be retrieved later. She revealed that she is now working on a painting of Wang Fuk Court as a keepsake to remember the fire.
Ms. Chong brought more than 30 paintings out of her home, each with its own meaning. Photo by Bastille Post
Today (May 4) marked the final day of the first round for Wang Fuk residents to go upstairs and retrieve their belongings. Photo by Bastille Post
Photo by Bastille Post
Photo by Bastille Post
Wang Fuk Court, Photo by Bastille Post
Wang Fuk Court, Photo by Bastille Post
