The death toll from the major fire that tore through a residential area in Hong Kong from Wednesday afternoon had risen to 55, according to the Special Administrative Region's Fire Services Department (FSD) on Thursday.
The FSD said 72 others injured in the fire had been sent to hospitals for treatment, including eight firefighters. Over 200 people are still missing.
The FSD has dispatched a total of 304 fire engines and rescue vehicles, and used drones to monitor heat levels to prevent rekindling. Personnel dispatched by the department have extinguished flames in four of the affected buildings and brought fire under control in the other three.
Flames had visibly subsided, but thick smoke kept billowing from parts of the charred buildings, while firefighters went on spraying water from a height.
The raging flames blackened the exterior walls of buildings, with scaffolding and green mesh originally installed for renovation work largely collapsed or destroyed.
A senior fire station official earlier said that firefighting and search teams are advancing floor by floor from the lower levels and have located survivors in several units, adding that they are expected to reach the rooftop later in the day.
The Tai Po District has set up eight shelters to accommodate relocated residents.
People from all walks of life in Hong Kong have been sending supplies to these shelters, where many residents are also volunteering to help register the affected people and distribute relief supplies to them.
"Under the coordination of the Home Affairs Department, colleagues from multiple government branches rushed to Tai Po District to help out. Our care team also joined in immediately. Since last night, we've been continuously registering residents and distributing supplies," said Chan Siu-kuen, head of Care Team in the district.
"After hearing about the fire at Wang Fuk Court yesterday afternoon and learning that shelters had opened, I came here right away. From the moment I arrived, I helped register people in need and distribute supplies to them. Many Hong Kong residents brought donations on their own, showing that even in a disaster, there is no shortage of compassion," said Cheung Yuk-man, a local resident.
The liaison office of China's central government in the Hong Kong SAR said early Thursday that it is closely following the search and rescue operation. Under the guidance of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, it has set up an emergency task force to provide necessary support for the Hong Kong SAR government in the aftermath of the disaster, the office added.
The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) on Thursday donated 2 million yuan (some 28.25 million U.S. dollars) to the Hong Kong Red Cross to support emergency relief and humanitarian assistance, pledging further help as needed.
The residential area Wang Fuk Court consists of eight buildings, all of which were encased by green mesh and scaffolding due to a major renovation project. Three men responsible for the renovations were arrested earlier for suspected manslaughter, as the police investigation pointed to flammable materials covering the buildings as a possible cause for the rapid spread of fire.
Death toll from Hong Kong building fire rises to 55: fire department
