Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa “transmits a word of comfort and heartfelt solidarity to the authorities of Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China and to the families of all those affected by this tragedy”
The President of the Republic expressed his regret this Thursday for the fatalities that resulted from the fire that hit residential buildings in Hong Kong on Wednesday night, which will be at least 75.
In a note published on the Presidency of the Republic’s website, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa “transmits a word of comfort and heartfelt solidarity to the authorities of Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China and to the families of all those affected by this tragedy”.
“The President of the Republic expresses his regret for the numerous fatalities that resulted from the serious fire that hit a residential complex in Hong Kong”, says the note.
At least 75 people died following the fire, according to a new report announced by the spokesperson for the Government of that special administrative region (HKSAR).
By 22:00 (14:00 in Lisbon), 75 people had died in the fire, a spokesperson for the region’s government told France-Presse, adding that firefighters had so far treated 76 injured people, 11 of them firefighters.
In a previous report, the Hong Kong fire department spokesman said that 51 people were found dead at the scene, while four others were declared dead at the hospital.
Also this Thursday, the Hong Kong Government created a fund with 300 million local dollars (33.3 million euros) for the victims of the deadliest fire in the city in more than a century.
This is already the deadliest fire since 1918, when Hong Kong was still a British colony. That year, a fire caused the collapse of the main grandstand at the Happy Valley racecourse, causing more than 600 deaths.
Police arrested three men on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter after discovering flammable materials left during maintenance work that led to the fire spreading quickly through the bamboo floors.
Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption has set up “a working group to launch a full investigation into possible corruption in the major Wang Fuk Court renovation project in Tai Po.”
The fire led to 900 residents of Wang Fuk Court being relocated to temporary shelters, as well as residents of the neighboring Kwong Fuk Estate, who were evacuated by authorities as a precaution.
