- The death toll in Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades rose to 128 confirmed deaths, with around 200 people unaccounted for.
- More than 2,300 firefighters and medical personnel were deployed. At least 79 emergency responders were injured, including 12 firefighters, and at least one firefighter was killed.
- Hong Kong’s anti-graft body has arrested eight people, including scaffolding subcontractors, project managers, and engineering consultants. The Independent Commission Against Corruption opened a task force to probe possible corruption or negligence in the renovation.
- Investigators say the fire spread rapidly via bamboo scaffolding, plastic mesh, and flammable foam panels used during renovation. Some residents and officials said many fire alarms did not work.
- The government announced a HK$300 million relief fund and organized temporary accommodation. Authorities will inspect other housing estates undergoing major works and emphasize a shift to metal scaffolding.
Hong Kong Apartment Complex Fire Death Toll Rises to 128
