In brief
A fierce fire engulfed a high-rise housing complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong, claiming at least 128 lives and leaving nearly 300 individuals missing. Eyewitness accounts recount harrowing moments as residents awaited news of their loved ones. Amid grief and desperation, families search for answers and hold onto hope. The incident has raised questions about safety practices in the area, as authorities investigate the circumstances that intensified the fire's spread.
Those were the last words Mr Chung said to his wife after a huge fire broke out in their high-rise public housing complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district. At around 15:00 local time, he received a panicked call from his wife, who was unable to escape their flat with their cat.Mr Chung rushed home to find the building shrouded in flames, as firefighters battled the blaze for nearly 24 hours. The inferno claimed at least 128 lives and left almost 300 people unaccounted for, including Mr Chung's wife.Witnesses described a lack of alarm systems and chaos as the fire spread rapidly through seven tower blocks, with many residents trapped inside. Mr Chung spent the night outside with his brother, anxiously awaiting updates from firefighters. His wife's last messages revealed a horrific struggle against the smoke.As days passed, the reality set in for many families, including Ms Fung, who is desperately searching for her mother. Despite receiving a call from a neighbor that her mother was hiding, they lost contact, fueling her worries.In addition to the human toll, the fire brings to light the controversial renovations at Wang Fuk Court, where flammable materials are suspected to have exacerbated the blaze's intensity. Three construction executives have been arrested amid allegations of gross negligence.As rescue efforts continue, authority officials maintain hope for survivors, leaving families like Mr Chung's clinging to a fragile optimism. I want to rescue her - whether she's alive or gone, he stated, embodying the heartbreak felt by many affected by this tragedy.
