Hong Kong apartment blaze death toll rises to 128 as rescue efforts wrap up; residents had expressed fire safety concerns

"Residents of the housing complex that was engulfed in Hong Kong's deadliest blaze in seven decades were told by authorities last year that they faced "relatively low fire risks" after complaining repeatedly about fire hazards posed by ongoing renovation works, the city's Labour Department told Reuters. People living at Wang Fuk Court in northern Hong Kong had raised concerns over maintenance activity in September 2024, including about the potential flammability of the protective green mesh contractors had used to cover the bamboo scaffolding raised around the buildings, a department spokesperson said in an email."

"The department subsequently reviewed safety certification for the mesh, which was used as a net for falling debris, and told residents the material's "flame-retardant performance" met standards, said the agency, which helps enforce construction standards set by the Building Department. Hong Kong police said on Thursday, however, that the exterior walls of the complex's buildings "had protective nets, membranes, waterproof tarpaulins, and plastic sheets suspected of not meeting fire safety standards." Three people associated with renovation contractor Prestige Construction have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. The exact cause of Wednesday's inferno has not been determined. What is clear, however, is that the fire spread rapidly through the exterior scaffolding system, said Jiang Liming, a fire-safety expert at Hong Kong Polytechnic University who reviewed video footage of the blaze."

At least 128 people have died and most victims' remains were found in two high-rise blocks after Hong Kong's deadliest blaze in seven decades. Fire alarms in affected buildings were not operating properly. Twelve firemen were seriously injured in rescue operations, with one later dying. Residents had previously complained about renovation-related fire hazards, including the flammability of protective green mesh used on bamboo scaffolding. The Labour Department reviewed safety certification and said the mesh met flame-retardant standards. Police later said exterior protective materials were suspected of not meeting fire safety standards, and three people linked to the contractor were arrested.

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