The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in seven decades climbed to more than 100 on Friday as the government announced a three-day official mourning period from Saturday for victims of the blaze.
National and Hong Kong flags at all its buildings and facilities will fly at half-mast until Monday, with officials cancelling all non-essential public engagements and government-endorsed celebratory events delayed or cancelled.
Residents can also pen their condolences in books placed across the city’s 18 districts.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung on Friday afternoon revealed the latest figure of 128 dead from the fire and warned of more bodies being pulled from the scene while 200 were still deemed to be missing.
The city marked the grim milestone with more outpouring of donations and volunteers fanning out to help while authorities swooped in on more suspects over the faulty renovation work at Wang Fuk Court that sparked the inferno.
Anti-corruption officers searched several offices throughout the day and eight people were arrested, bringing the total number under arrest to 11.
As search and rescue efforts continued for the third day on Friday and groups of those displaced made their way to new temporary homes, the government also raised the sum it would give to each family of the deceased victims to HK$200,000 (US$25,690), up from HK$150,000.
