Hong Kong Apartment Fire: Overview and Investigation
A fire at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Hong Kong has resulted in at least 159 fatalities. The incident is currently under investigation by an independent committee.
Incident Details
William Li, a 40-year-old resident of Wang Fuk Court, assisted neighbors during the fire. Mr. Li subsequently expressed regret regarding the number of individuals he could not save.
One week after the event, firefighters continue search operations within the complex, which comprises seven high-rise buildings, for the remains of 30 individuals.
Contributing Factors and Investigation
An independent committee, commissioned by Hong Kong's chief executive, is investigating the fire's origin and factors contributing to the casualty count. Preliminary findings indicate the presence of non-fire resistant netting on the building's exterior and malfunctioning fire alarm systems.
Mr. Li initially reported underestimating the fire's severity due to the absence of activated fire alarms after receiving a call from his wife. He spent approximately 10 minutes gathering personal items before attempting to exit his residence. Upon opening his door, Mr. Li encountered dense smoke, necessitating his retreat into the apartment.
During this period, Mr. Li's wife conveyed distress via telephone. Mr. Li then located two neighbors by touch in the smoke-filled corridor, using a wet towel to cover his face, and brought them into his apartment.
In an adjacent building, Bai Shui Lin, 66, reportedly alerted multiple families to the fire by knocking on their doors. Ms. Lin subsequently succumbed to the incident. Her body was identified by her sons, one of whom, Yip Ka-Kui, suggested that Ms. Lin prioritized warning other residents.
The two neighbors Mr. Li assisted reported hearing another voice in the corridor, that of a domestic worker calling for an elderly woman. The voice subsequently ceased. Mr. Li was unable to provide further assistance and later expressed regret regarding this.
Casualties and Rescues
Among the deceased are reportedly nine Indonesian and one Filipino domestic workers. Survivors include Rhodora Alcaraz, 28, who remained with her employer's three-month-old infant and elderly mother in another apartment until rescue. Voice messages sent by Ms. Alcaraz reportedly conveyed difficulty breathing and physical weakness.
Mr. Li and the two neighbors (identified in local media as the Chows) were trapped for several hours. Options for escape were limited, with one fire exit blocked by flames and another reportedly locked. They determined that exiting via a second-floor window was not feasible due to the fire's intensity and observed explosions. A subsidiary of ISS, the property manager of Wang Fuk Court, has not responded to inquiries regarding reports of a locked emergency exit.
Mr. Li and the Chows were eventually rescued after more than two hours.