Hong Kong fire fallout: rescue ends as toll reaches 128, around 200 still missing

Firefighting and search operations at Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades have officially ended, as authorities confirmed the death toll has climbed to 128 and about 200 residents remain unaccounted for.

Security chief Chris Tang said on Friday that rescue efforts at the Wang Fuk Court residential development in Tai Po are now complete, after days of hazardous operations through smoke, debris and collapsing scaffolding.

According to the Fire Services Department, flames were “largely extinguished” by 10:18am (02:18 GMT) and “firefighting operations have ended,” bringing the emergency phase to a close.

The eight-tower estate, home to more than 4,600 people, was undergoing renovation when the fire erupted on Wednesday afternoon. The buildings were wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh, which helped the blaze race across the facade.

Police have arrested three construction company officials on suspicion of manslaughter, accusing them of using unsafe materials, including flammable foam boards that blocked windows.

Earlier, firefighters continued entering units across the seven damaged towers.

“We’ll endeavour to effect forcible entry to all the units of the seven buildings, so as to ensure there are no other possible casualties,” Deputy Fire Services Director Derek Chan said.

Chan confirmed that 25 emergency calls remain unresolved, including three received in recent hours, which will be prioritised.

Most of the fatalities were concentrated in two towers, though survivors were found in several others. Among the dead were two Indonesian domestic workers, according to the Indonesian consulate. Hong Kong hosts around 368,000 domestic workers, many of whom live inside their employers’ homes.

Scenes of despair have followed the disaster, including a mother searching shelters while holding her daughter’s graduation photo. Eight temporary shelters are currently housing about 900 displaced residents.

The blaze is now Hong Kong’s deadliest since 1948, when a warehouse fire killed 176 people. Comparisons are already being drawn with London’s Grenfell Tower disaster, which claimed 72 lives in 2017.

Hong Kong leader John Lee announced a HK$300m ($39m) relief fund to support affected families, while several major Chinese companies have pledged donations.