- The fire in Hong Kong claimed 94 lives, rescue work continues
- The deadliest fire since 1948 started on Wednesday afternoon.
- The cause of the fire is unknown, apparently bamboo scaffolding contributed to it.
- About 80 people, including firefighters, were injured.
Rescue efforts in connection with a large-scale fire in an apartment complex in Hong Kong continued on Friday – three days after it broke out. The authorities there informed that the number of victims of this tragedy has already risen to 94writes TASR based on a report from the DPA agency.
According to the fire department about 80 other people were injured, including several firefighters, Hong Kong media reported. Firefighters expect the end of the search and rescue work in the course of Friday morning. They hope to gain access to all affected apartment buildings in the residential complex by then.
The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon and is the deadliest fire in Hong Kong since 1948. According to the DPA, the exact cause of its occurrence has not yet been determined. However, bamboo scaffolding and protective nets probably contributed to the spread of the fire. This type of scaffolding is still allowed in Hong Kong, although the government announced a ban on public projects earlier this year due to safety concerns.
The police have so far detained two directors and a technical consultant Prestige Construction, which was contracted to maintain the buildings. According to Reuters are suspected of involuntary manslaughter due to the use of hazardous materials.
