A taxi fleet has been offering free rides to residents and victims in the wake of the recent catastrophic residential building fire in Hong Kong, one of the region's deadliest disasters in decades.
The fire, which broke out at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po on November 26, had claimed 160 lives by Tuesday, with six people still listed as missing, according to authorities.
In response, the "Big Bee" taxi fleet, operated by Sino Development (International) Company, joined several volunteer groups in providing free rides for affected residents.
Beyond transporting displaced survivors, the fleet also assisted in moving donated supplies and volunteers to and from the area.
"In the first few days, drivers came to the site voluntarily to offer help. There were many firefighters and rescuers on site. During the ten days from December 1 to 10, we offered about 100 free rides daily on average, serving roughly 300 residents and fire victims each day," said Sam Wong, founder and CEO of Sino Development (International) Company.
"We are very willing to take part in this effort. Every driver is," said Lui Kai-wa, a taxi driver.
As most displaced residents have now been relocated through government coordination, volunteer taxi drivers are gradually returning to their regular routes.
More than 2,500 displaced residents have moved into transitional housing units, with Hong Kong's Transport Department providing additional public transport services to meet commuting needs.
"There is a gradual decrease in usage, as much of the transportation need for people and supplies has already been completed. Demand is clearly declining," Lui said.
Wong also praised the government's role in the relief work.
"Over the past few days, we've seen the government carry out a tremendous amount of work, especially in response to such a big and serious disaster. Its role has been very significant," Wong said.
Taxi feet offers free rides to residents, victims in wake of deadly Hong Kong residential building fire
Pakistani warplanes struck several locations across Afghanistan on Thursday night and Friday, killing at least six people, including a woman and a child, and wounding more than a dozen others, local officials said.
The strikes hit a fuel depot near the country's Kandahar Airport, areas in the capital Kabul, and the eastern Nangarhar Province.
A Pakistani security source said the strikes targeted hideouts belonging to the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In Kabul's 21st police district, one of the areas hit, a market was left in ruins. Several cars were destroyed, and windows of buildings in the market and nearby areas were shattered. A crater caused by the Pakistani airstrikes was also visible.
"This is my car. I had parked it here, and it was the only way I could bring food to my family's table. It was my sole source of income and my only means of employment. Now my car is in this condition, and I have no other way to provide for my family," said Mohamad Ghulam, a taxi driver.
The airstrikes destroyed a house, killing four members of a single family. More than a dozen other households in the area reported their homes either fully or partially destroyed.
One of the victims was 22-year-old Hedayatullah, who had just been married. He was killed alongside his pregnant wife, as well as his brother and sister.
"Hedayatullah got married nine months ago. His brother was 18 years old. He himself was 22 years old, he also had a 12-year-old sister, and his wife was about 19 years old and was pregnant," said Ghulam Sakhi, a relative of the victims.
"This neighbor of ours was a family of five. Their mother was not present at the moment of the bombardment, but the rest of them lost their lives. It was Hedayatuallah's family. From my own family, two of my daughters, my sister-in-law, my brother, and two nieces got injured," said Mohamad Homayoun, a survivor.
In the past weeks, scores of people from both sides have been killed or injured in the conflict between Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, according to officials from the two countries.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has called for an immediate halt to cross-border clashes, warning that the escalating violence is driving a surge in civilian casualties and deepening a humanitarian crisis.
At least 6 killed, more than a dozen wounded in Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan: officials
