In brief
A tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong has prompted a three-day mourning period after at least 128 lives were lost. The city has witnessed significant community and governmental responses, including moments of silence and memorial points. Officials are investigating possible negligence and corruption related to renovation work on the site, with various arrests already made. The investigation aims to understand how the fire, which quickly engulfed multiple tower blocks, spread so rapidly, and residents express anger toward safety standards in place.
Hong Kong officials have held a moment of silence at the start of a three-day mourning period to remember those killed after the city's deadliest fire in nearly 80 years.
At least 128 people are now known to have died in the fire which engulfed several tower blocks on Wednesday. Hundreds remain unaccounted for.
Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of corruption over the renovation works the blocks had been undergoing, while three others were detained on manslaughter charges.
The Saturday morning ceremony was held outside government headquarters, attended by city leader John Lee and other Hong Kong officials, who observed three minutes of silence as flags were lowered to half mast. Memorial points have also been set up across the city for residents to pay their respects and sign condolence books.
Once it started, the fire quickly spread to seven of the eight blocks at Wang Fuk Court, with more than 2,000 firefighters deployed over nearly two days to control it. The cause remains under investigation, with indications that polystyrene and protective netting on the windows contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.
The investigation will continue in the coming weeks, as officials gather evidence from the site. Residents have expressed outrage over reported safety failures, including malfunctioning fire alarms during renovations. A probe by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) identified company directors and subcontractors among those arrested.
Wang Fuk Court, built in 1983, provided nearly 2,000 apartments to approximately 4,600 residents, emphasizing the tragedy's extensive impact on the community.
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