On Saturday, November 29, a three-day mourning period began in Hong Kong in memory of the victims of a major fire that occurred on November 26, reports DW. In the government quarter of Hong Kong, the head of the administration, John Lee, and senior officials honored the memory of the deceased by observing three minutes of silence.
Until December 1, flags on all administrative buildings will be flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning.
As of the evening of November 28, the death toll had reached 128, and this number may increase as debris removal continues. At the time of reporting, 150 people were listed as missing.
In response to the tragedy that occurred in the Tai Po area in northern Hong Kong, China has initiated inspections of high-rise buildings across the country to ensure compliance with safety regulations. The Minister of Emergency Management of the People's Republic of China, Wang Xiangxi, stated on November 29 that attention will be focused on buildings undergoing external wall repairs and internal structural changes.
During the inspections, four key aspects will be examined: the use of flammable materials in the insulation of external walls, the application of prohibited construction materials, the condition of fire safety equipment, and the availability of evacuation routes in the buildings.
The fire that started in Tai Po lasted more than 40 hours, until the morning of November 28. According to the fire service, the flames spread extremely quickly due to strong winds and debris, as well as through bamboo scaffolding. As a result of the fire, seven out of eight buildings in the Wang Fuk Court residential complex were affected.
Among the victims was a firefighter who temporarily lost contact with colleagues while extinguishing the fire and was found with burns.
The authorities classified this incident as a fire of the highest, fifth level of danger. The last time such a rating was given in Hong Kong was in 2008. This tragedy has become the deadliest since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse fire.
