New DelhiThe Hong Kong Police Force has released disturbing photos showing the aftermath of the massive fire that destroyed large parts of the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in the Tai Po district. The images reveal burnt interiors, collapsed metal structures, charred air conditioners and rooms reduced to ash. As they continue to look for more bodies, rescue personnel can be seen clearing debris.
Seven towers were destroyed by fire, which killed 146 people.The fire started on Wednesday and quickly spread throughout the complex's seven residential towers, making it Hong Kong's deadliest in over 75 years. The fire was eventually put out on Friday after firefighters worked for two days to contain the flames.
So far, 146 people have been confirmed dead, while around 100 others are still missing. Another 79 people were injured, according to officials. The buildings have been undergoing renovations since last year, according to the authorities. They reported that bamboo scaffolding and flammable foam boards used to cover windows played a major role in accelerating the spread of the fire.
These materials created conditions that allowed the blaze to jump quickly from one tower to another.
Work suspended at 28 projects linked to contractorIn response to growing safety concerns, Hong Kong officials announced on Saturday that work has been halted on 28 building projects handled by the complex’s contractor, Prestige Construction and Engineering Company. Urgent safety audits will be conducted on these projects to evaluate adherence to fire safety regulations.
Local authorities have arrested at least 11 people in connection with the fire. Three representatives of the construction company are among them; they are being looked into for possible safety infractions and carelessness related to Wang Fuk Court renovations.