Migrant workers who survived last month's deadly building fire in Hong Kong's Tai Po district are slowly piecing their lives back together with the help of local organizations and the wider community, who are providing essential support to those affected by the disaster.
The tragic blaze, which erupted on Nov. 26 at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Tai Po, has claimed at least 161 lives, making it one of the deadliest fires Hong Kong has seen for decades.
More than 200 Filipino and Indonesian domestic workers were employed in the complex, which saw seven of its eight housing blocks being completely engulfed in the flames.
Among those working inside the apartment block when the blaze broke out was an Indonesian worker named Yuni, who recalled the terrifying moments when she fled from the ferocious fire.
"I pressed the lift, then thank god, the lift still worked. From 19th floor, I pressed the lift, I go down and it was there I saw the fire was so big. Then I cannot save my things, my documents, my passport, everything," she said.
Yuni, who has been a domestic worker at the site for more than three years, said she has been left badly shaken by the experience.
"I saw it at night. The fire was big. It made me very scared. So until now, I can't sleep well. I normally sleep very deep, but now I sleep at 10 or 11 [p.m.], I wake up at 3 [a.m.] after midnight. I still can imagine that fire when I open my eyes," she said.
Although many are still struggling to come to terms with the aftermath of the tragedy, Yuni said support from local organizations and the wider community at large has helped a lot, as she extended her gratitude to those who have provided various forms of assistance.
"Thanks to so many people who help us, support us until now. We thank you very much. We are here as not Hong Kong people, but they're very nice to us," said Yuni.
Organizations assisting the many foreign domestic workers affected by the fire say it's important to continue to reach out to them to ensure they are getting all the support they need in the wake of the tragedy.
"They are still working with the employer, and mostly they are taking [care] of the elderly, or maybe they are taking [care of] the baby. So, it's not easy for them to leave the employers, or to leave the house. So, we need to find a way how to reach out [to] them, how to contact them, and also how to deliver their needs. This is the challenge that up to now we are still facing," said Sring Sringatin, secretary of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union.
Hong Kong is home to almost 370,000 migrant domestic workers, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia.
Migrant domestic workers in HK receive support to rebuild lives after deadly fire
