Hong Kong has suspended election activities, and a top finance official has shortened his trip to Italy, as firefighting efforts continue at a deadly blaze at a housing estate in Tai Po that has claimed at least 44 lives.
As of 10am on Thursday, among the 64 people taken to hospital, 16 were in critical condition, local media reported.
Speaking to reporters at around 1am on Thursday, Chief Executive John Lee expressed his condolences to the families of the victims who died in the fire at Wang Fuk Court. He said 279 people were still missing.
He said the city had paused all promotional activities for the upcoming Legislative Council elections, including candidate forums.
Authorities will also continue postponing the elections, scheduled for next Sunday.
“Currently, the entire government will be fully engaged in handling this major disaster… as for other things, we will make a decision in the coming days,” he said in Cantonese.
“The elections are certainly also very important, but at the moment, the most crucial task is handling… the fire, as well as how to provide the most appropriate and comprehensive assistance to support victims,” he added.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan, who is in Milan on an official visit, will return to Hong Kong “earlier than scheduled in light of the No. 5 alarm fire incident,” according to a government statement published on Thursday morning.
Chan was originally slated to return to Hong Kong on Friday, but instead departed on Thursday morning.
Chinese President Xi Jinping also expressed his condolences and urged an “all-out effort” to put out the fire and minimise casualties, state broadcaster CCTV said on Wednesday evening.
Lee said during the briefing that he thanked Xi for his “high level concern,” and that Xi had requested the Liaison Office – Beijing’s top organ in Hong Kong – to support the city’s authorities where needed.
The chief executive added that leaders from other nearby cities had also reached out to Hong Kong authorities offering help.
“[If] we have other needs… [if] we need medical equipment or other tools, they are very willing to offer. I will remain in contact with them,” Lee said.
“I am thankful for the support from different departments in the mainland, and again, I thank President Xi for his high-level concern and care for this incident.”
3 arrests
At least 44 people have died in the fire, which began shortly before 3pm on Wednesday. The fire started at Wang Cheong House, an apartment block in Wang Fuk Court, but soon spread to neighbouring towers, eventually engulfing seven of the eight buildings in the housing complex.
The spread of the fire was exacerbated by the green construction mesh and bamboo scaffolding surrounding each building as part of renovation works.
Three men, aged between 52 and 68, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. The three are linked to a construction company – one is an engineering consultant, and two are directors. Police have begun a joint investigation with the Fire Services Department (FSD).
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but security chief Chris Tang said that waterproof tarpaulins, protective nets, and plastic sheeting burned “far more violently” than compliant materials, with flames spreading more rapidly around the 31-storey blocks.
The FSD said it received reports of the fire at 2.51pm on Wednesday. It initially classified the blaze as a No. 3 alarm at 3.02pm before upgrading it to No. 4 – the second-highest alarm in Hong Kong – at 3.34pm.
By around 6pm on Wednesday, the fire was upgraded to a No. 5 alarm fire, the highest level.
The FSD mobilised over 140 firetrucks and more than 60 ambulances, Lee said during the media briefing. Over 800 firefighters and paramedics were also deployed.
Among the dead is a firefighter, a 37-year-old surnamed Ho, who belonged to the Sha Tin Fire Station. He was dispatched to the scene at 3.01pm.
Wednesday’s blaze marks the first time in 17 years since a No. 5 alarm has been raised – the last involved a fire at Cornwall Court in Mong Kok, which left four dead.
