Hong Kong authorities have confirmed a revised death toll of 168 fatalities from the catastrophic November apartment fire at Wang Fuk Court, establishing the incident as the city’s most lethal blaze in over half a century. The final count increased by seven victims after comprehensive identification procedures concluded this week.
Victims spanned extreme age demographics from a six-month-old infant to a 98-year-old elder, with gender distribution showing 110 female and 58 male casualties. Security Secretary Chris Tang confirmed the completion of all victim identification processes, revealing the tragic inclusion of ten migrant domestic workers (nine Indonesian and one Filipina), five construction personnel, and two interior decorators among the deceased.
The 1980s-built residential complex in Tai Po district housed approximately 4,600 residents according to 2021 census data, with nearly 40% of occupants aged 65 or older. Many elderly residents who perished had resided in the building for decades, creating a devastating community impact.
Law enforcement officials have arrested over thirty individuals connected to the disaster, with suspicions ranging from manslaughter to fraud and corruption. City Leader John Lee emphasized the ongoing judicial proceedings during Wednesday’s announcement.
The firefighting response deployed thousands of emergency personnel, resulting in the line-of-duty death of 37-year-old firefighter Ho Wai-ho. Medical authorities confirmed four victims succumbed after hospital transfer while 164 were declared deceased at the scene.
Preliminary investigations indicate substandard window mesh installations potentially accelerated the fire’s propagation, with flames raging uncontrollably for more than twenty-four hours. Official determination of the blaze’s exact origin remains ongoing as forensic experts continue their examination.