Hong Kong authorities confirmed Thursday that the death toll from a devastating residential building fire has climbed to 94, marking one of the deadliest fire incidents in the city’s recent history. The fire department continues rescue operations at the scene amid growing concerns about building safety standards in densely populated urban areas.
The blaze, which erupted in a multi-story residential complex, prompted an extensive emergency response involving hundreds of firefighters and medical personnel. Despite their efforts, the rapid spread of flames and dense smoke created extremely challenging rescue conditions, resulting in the staggering casualty count.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed profound condolences over the tragic incident and called for maximum efforts in rescue operations to minimize further losses. The statement emphasized prioritizing people’s lives and safety while mobilizing all available resources for the emergency response.
Local authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the fire’s cause, with preliminary reports suggesting possible electrical faults or structural safety issues as potential contributing factors. The tragedy has sparked immediate discussions about fire safety regulations and building maintenance standards in Hong Kong’s aging residential infrastructure.
Survivors and families of victims are receiving government support services as the community grapples with the scale of the tragedy. The incident has drawn attention to urban safety challenges in high-density living environments across Asian metropolises.