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Hong Kong Fire Death Toll Rises to 146 After Police Complete Search of Four Buildings

The full search of all seven burnt buildings is expected to take three to four weeks.

  • Publish date: since 4 days Reading time: two min read
Hong Kong Fire Death Toll Rises to 146 After Police Complete Search of Four Buildings

The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in more than 75 years has climbed to 146, after police completed the search of four high-rise residential blocks ravaged by the massive blaze.

Read More: Eight More Arrested in Hong Kong Fire Probe as Death Toll Rises

Authorities said at least 79 people were injured, and the full search of all seven burnt buildings is expected to take three to four weeks, according to Hong Kong police.

The fire, which tore through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in the Tai Po district, has sparked public outrage, with thousands demanding answers and accountability. Beijing has warned it will enforce the national security law to curb any “anti-China” protest linked to the tragedy.

Safety Failures Under Scrutiny

While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, officials confirmed multiple safety lapses:

  • Fire alarms were not functioning

  • The buildings were encased in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh

  • Renovation work included foam insulation, which may have accelerated the spread

Residents and mourners gathered along a canal near the charred towers, forming a queue over a kilometre long to lay white flowers. Sticky notes filled with messages to the victims were left at the site as the smell of smoke lingered four days after the blaze.

Migrant Workers Among the Victims

Authorities confirmed that seven Indonesian domestic workers and one Filipino helper were among the dead. In Central Hong Kong, hundreds attended an outdoor prayer meeting organised for the Filipino community on Sunday.

Calls for Accountability

Police on Saturday detained Miles Kwan, 24, a member of a group that launched a petition seeking an independent probe into possible corruption and a review of construction oversight. Two sources told Reuters about the detention, though it remains unclear whether he was formally arrested.

The petition had gathered over 10,000 signatures by Saturday afternoon before it was taken down.

The tragedy has rattled the city, with grief turning into growing calls for transparency, justice, and urgent reform of safety standards across Hong Kong’s ageing housing estates.

This article was previously published on bahrainmoments. To see the original article, click here

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