Hong Kong authorities have initiated comprehensive emergency measures following the catastrophic fire at Wang Fuk Court housing complex that has resulted in 159 confirmed fatalities. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has mandated the immediate removal of all scaffolding from building maintenance projects across the territory within a 72-hour window for urgent fire safety inspections.
Development Secretary Bernadette Linn announced that construction materials will only be reinstalled after meeting new safety standards to be formally issued next week. The police confirmed Wednesday afternoon that 31 individuals remain unaccounted for following the blaze, with victims ranging from 1 to 97 years old. Of the 159 recovered bodies, 140 have been formally identified.
Search operations within the seven affected buildings have concluded, with authorities now expanding their recovery efforts to the surrounding areas where scaffolding collapsed during the fire. This next phase requires meticulous removal of debris and ashes under controlled safety conditions, which officials indicate will require additional time.
In a significant development, law enforcement has arrested six individuals connected to a contractor responsible for installing fire safety equipment. The suspects are accused of falsely certifying that fire alarms were operational during maintenance work at Wang Fuk Court. Additional investigations are underway regarding potential document forgery related to renovation materials used at the site.
Financial support for affected residents continues to grow, with the disaster relief fund reaching HK$2.4 billion (approximately $308 million) by Wednesday noon. The HKSAR government is implementing tax relief measures and fee waivers for victims and their families.
The Central Government’s Hong Kong and Macao Work Office is coordinating delivery of critical disaster-relief supplies, including protective goggles and waterproof gloves requested by local authorities. Previous shipments from the mainland included emergency lighting equipment that assisted police in their search and recovery operations.