HONG KONG — The death toll from Hong Kong’s worst fire in decades rose to 128 on Friday, Nov. 28, after authorities brought a residential complex blaze in Tai Po district under control, local media reported.
One firefighter was among the dead, according to the South China Morning Post. Another 79 people, including 11 firefighters, were injured. Rescue operations continued, though fires in all blocks of the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex had been extinguished.
Security Secretary Chris Tang Ping-keung said the death toll had reached 128, with more bodies likely to be found. Authorities have received reports of 467 missing persons, while about 200 others were in “uncertain circumstances,” including 80 bodies that could not be identified.
The fire broke out around midday Wednesday in the complex, which contains more than 1,900 apartments. The flames spread quickly because of bamboo scaffolding installed on the outside of the buildings for renovation work.
Police have detained two directors and a consultant from Prestige Construction and Engineering Co. in connection with the incident. Authorities said the fire spread rapidly because windows were covered with bamboo and foam plastic materials used for renovations.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report