The Hong Kong government has announced a HK$300 million ($38.5 million) relief fund for residents affected by the city’s deadliest fire in decades, as authorities continue to search for dozens of people still missing.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced in an update that a relief fund is being created and each household will receive HK$10,000 (£972, US$1,300).
Officials said nine shelters had been opened across the city, providing temporary housing and emergency support for people who lost their homes in Wednesday’s fire.
Activities linked to the city’s legislative elections scheduled for December 7 have also been suspended.
Community groups have organized a large relief effort, which was already very organized on Friday. In a public square near the affected towers there were stations supplying clothing, food and household items, along with stalls offering medical and psychological assistance.
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The donations were so substantial that organizers asked the public on social media to stop contributions.
Online tribune reports that the death toll rose to 128 on Friday, with authorities confirming that fire alarms throughout the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po were “not working properly”.
Some 200 people were still missing and 89 bodies were still waiting to be identified.
Authorities said the fire appeared to have started in protective netting on the lower floors of one of the towers, and that foam boards and bamboo scaffolding helped accelerate its spread.
Fire services reported the fire was “largely extinguished” after burning for more than 40 hours and completing searches of more than 1,800 homes. Investigators are reviewing whether renovation materials contributed to the rapid escalation.
“We will take enforcement action against the responsible contractors,” said fire services chief Andy Yeung.
Residents recalled running to warn neighbors as the flames spread. On Friday morning, workers were seen removing bodies in black bags from damaged buildings, while vehicles transported more remains to a morgue in Sha Tin. Families continued to visit hospitals and identification centers as they searched for their loved ones.
“We still can’t find them. So we go to different hospitals to ask if they have good news,” said a woman surnamed Wong as she searched for her sister-in-law and twin.
“A building went up in flames and the flames spread to two more blocks in less than 15 minutes,” a witness surnamed Mui told AFP. “It was so fast. It was burning red, I shudder to think about it.”
(AFP)
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