Residents across Hong Kong rush to help after deadly fire

Volunteers and community groups rushed in, determined to help after a major residential complex fire broke out in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday.

A steady stream of emergency supplies such as blankets, food and water, donated by enterprises and individuals, has been arriving at the temporary shelters.

Many residents have also voluntarily transported supplies, organized fundraisers, and offered online psychological counseling.

"I've lived here for over 30 years. Our hearts are incredibly heavy right now. But at the same time, we feel deeply comforted by the support from our national leaders, leaders at all levels, and all sectors of society. Those who can give money are giving money, those who can contribute effort are giving their strength. It makes us feel that when one place is in trouble, help comes from all directions. Our volunteers come from all over Hong Kong, as well as from the mainland and even overseas. Everyone came voluntarily, and most of us didn't know each other beforehand," said a volunteer.

"My feeling is that we are all Hong Kong people, and when others need help, we young people, can do our part and help by providing daily necessities and essentials they need. They are all very happy about that," said a senior high school student.

"Everyone is working together. This truly reflects the spirit of 'when one place is in trouble, aid comes from all directions,'" said another high school volunteer on site.

Angus Ng Hok-ming, chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Youth Association, has also organized volunteers to provide assistance.

"We recruited 1,200 volunteers in two days. Currently, supplies are plentiful, we have sufficient personnel, and there are many volunteers. So we can see that everyone is united and doing their utmost to support the disaster relief efforts. I feel that this shows Hong Kong is full of love," Ng said.

Firefighting, rescue and search operations were completed on Friday morning after the fatal blaze broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong's Tai Po on Wednesday afternoon. The tragedy has claimed 128 lives.

Residents across Hong Kong rush to help after deadly fire

Residents across Hong Kong rush to help after deadly fire

Residents across Hong Kong rush to help after deadly fire

Residents across Hong Kong rush to help after deadly fire

The United States, on one hand, strikes Iran's nuclear facilities, and on the other hand, signs a nuclear energy cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, a move that exposes Washington's consistent double standards, said an Iranian analyst on Friday.

According to announcements from the U.S. Department of Energy on Wednesday and Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy on Thursday, the United States and Saudi Arabia have reached a nuclear energy cooperation agreement. Iranian political analyst Arash Akbari said that both Saudi Arabia and Iran are signatories to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and enjoy the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy.

"At the same time that the U.S. is striking Iranian nuclear facilities in the middle of Iran, and it is threatening the life of living creatures, not only human, at the same time they are dealing with Saudi Arabia and giving them the rights, the same right that Iran is having now, which is being destroyed. This is the best example of double standard," Arash said.

Arash also said that Iran will resolutely respond to the U.S. strikes on its civilian facilities.

"We are on a direct confrontation with U.S. And the U.S. is striking Iranian civilian facilities such as roads, bridges, dams, tunnels. But at the same time, Iran is doing a confrontation on the basis of proportional self-defense. So whatever we are getting hit, we are getting hit back. At this stage, I think we are not at the end of this confrontation," he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday attached a new condition to the U.S.-Saudi civilian nuclear agreement signed one day earlier, saying that the deal will move forward only if Saudi Arabia normalizes relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords.

In response, the expert said that the United States intends to use the nuclear energy cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to bring Israel closer to regional Arab countries and strengthen Israel's strategic position in the Middle East.

US-Saudi nuclear deal exposes Washington's double standards: Iranian analyst