The Interior of the Burned Wang Fuk Court is Disclosed: Walls Peeled off and Furniture Turned to Ashes

2025-12-01 23:38 Last Updated At：12-02 00:09

The police kept carrying out follow-up operations at Wang Fuk Court on November 30th. The Disaster Victims Identification Unit (DVIU), the Identification Bureau (IB) and other related personnel are fully engaged in their work, including case evidence collection, fire site search, corpse identification and registration, etc.

According to the latest photos on the social media of the Hong Kong Police, the members of DVIU, who dressed in white protective suits, have entered the burned units of Wang Fuk Court to search for corpses. From the photos, it's clear that almost all the furniture in the units has turned to ash. The walls of the rooms were charred black and even peeled off. Moreover, due to the lack of light in the wreckage of the buildings, the difficulty of searching has greatly increased.

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Photo source: FB of Hong Kong Police

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Photo source: FB of Hong Kong Police

The police pointed out that, after the fire, the circumstances of the search site have become extremely harsh. There was burned debris from bamboo scaffolding, air conditioners, and other items outside the buildings. As for the interior of Wang Fuk Court, in some of the pitch-dark units, the depth of the accumulated water could reach the lower legs, while a large amount of furniture and items had collapsed. Facing such a tough searching environment, the members of DVIU remained fearless and united, doing their utmost at the burned buildings to search for any objects or clues that could help to identify and confirm the identities of the victims, allowing the families of the victims to farewell to their deceased loved ones for the last time.

Loss and Salvation Coexist in the Fire: Though Homes Are Reduced to Ashes, Hope of New Life Still Lives On for Wang Fuk Residents

Today (May 4) marked the final day of the first round for Wang Fuk residents to go upstairs and retrieve their belongings.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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, 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.

The Interior of the Burned Wang Fuk Court is Disclosed: Walls Peeled off and Furniture Turned to Ashes

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