The Chan sisters, aged 65, 62 and 59, have noodles and milk tea for breakfast while sitting on a curb. They have spent two nights sleeping on mats and blankets in the Kwong Fuk civic center, in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district. They are residents of Wang Fuk Court, the housing complex where a megafire broke out on Wednesday afternoon that has left at least 94 dead and 76 injured (a dozen in critical condition), according to the latest count by the authorities, published on Friday morning (early morning in Spain).
“We were warned by a neighbor who knocked on our door. The alarms did not sound,” says the eldest of the sisters, while stirring the contents of her plate with chopsticks. “I don’t know what would have happened to us,” she murmurs. They are tired, but, above all, dismayed by what they consider negligence. The shock is giving way to indignation around Wang Fuk Court, where questions are increasing about how the fire could engulf seven of the eight skyscrapers that make up the development in a matter of minutes. Neighbors demand responsibilities.
Although the causes of the fire remain unknown – there are several investigations underway – the police link the mesh used to cover the buildings, which were under construction, and the polystyrene found in several blocks with the very rapid spread of the flames. Bamboo scaffolding, a material still used in construction in Hong Kong, has also been pointed out as a factor that fueled them. The local government had proposed gradually replacing this type of cane scaffolding with other metal ones, but some unions opposed banning this material, citing its flexibility, according to several city media.
The renovation plan for the urbanization, started last year and scheduled until the middle of next year, was valued at 330 million Hong Kong dollars (about 36.6 million euros) and several of them have confirmed to EL PAÍS.
According to the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Postthe company in charge of the works, Prestige Construction & Engineering, according to the records of the city’s Department of Labor, which only offers information on its website for the last two years. Local authorities revealed late Thursday that the company had 11 other projects underway in private residential developments, which have already been inspected. The day before, the police arrested two directors and a consultant of the firm, who are accused of gross negligence.
Early on Friday, flames were still visible at the top of one of the 31-story towers. Although firefighters have reported that the fire is under control, during the night a light was reactivated in one of the homes. Rescue teams continue to work tirelessly, even as hopes of finding survivors inside the skyscrapers begin to diminish.
The deputy director of fire services, Derek Armstrong Chan, reported early in the morning that the number of missing people can only be determined once search and rescue operations have concluded. The authorities spoke on Wednesday of almost 300 people unaccounted for, a figure that has not been updated since then, despite the fact that the number of deaths and injuries has increased.
The Choy couple have slept in a tent since they were evacuated. They appreciate the “tireless” work of the firefighters and the hundreds of volunteers who have mobilized to assist those affected. Solidarity has flooded social networks, where dozens of groups created to coordinate shifts of support and distribution of supplies circulate. “I have found everything I could need at the center,” says Mrs. Choy. However, he shares his concern for the future. “Even when we can return home, we won’t feel safe,” he protests.
The insurer of the burned complex, China Taiping Insurance, is offering up to 2 billion Hong Kong dollars (222 million euros) for material and fire-related damages. The policy provides public liability coverage of up to 20 million Hong Kong dollars (2.22 million euros) for each death, according to SCMP.
Hong Kong, a former British colony that London returned to Beijing in 1997, is one of the most densely populated areas on the planet, with a huge concentration of high-rise residential blocks and buildings very close together. It is estimated that in , which has 1,984 homes, around 4,600 residents live in apartments of between 37 and 46 square meters. According to 2021 census data, more than a third of renters are 65 years old or older, and between a quarter and a third are in the 40 to 64 age group. The group of buildings is part of the Government’s subsidized housing program and has been occupied since 1983.
