Death Toll Rises to 128 in Hong Kong High‑Rise Fire

Search for survivors dwindles as dozens remain missing

Hong Kong – The devastating fire that ripped through the Wang Fuk Court apartment towers early Wednesday has left a death count of 128, the highest for a single incident in the city in decades. Authorities say the number may still climb as rescue teams continue to comb the wreckage.

The blaze broke out just after 2:30 a.m. in a densely packed block of high‑rise flats in the Kowloon district. Thick black smoke billowed for hours, prompting an emergency response that involved more than 200 firefighters, dozens of ambulances and a fleet of rescue helicopters.

“The scale of the tragedy is beyond anything we have seen in recent memory,” said Chief Fire Officer Chan Mei‑Ling. “Our priority now is to locate any remaining survivors and to provide support to the families of the victims.”

As of the latest update, over 70 residents are still unaccounted for. Families and neighbours have gathered outside the site, holding candles and praying for the missing. The government has set up temporary shelters and counseling centers to assist those displaced by the disaster.

Investigators have launched a full inquiry into the cause of the fire. Early reports suggest a possible electrical fault in a ground‑floor unit, but officials caution that the exact trigger remains under review.

Mayor Lee Kwok‑Yiu pledged immediate financial aid for the victims’ families and announced that the city will allocate additional resources to improve fire safety standards in older high‑rise buildings.

While the hope of finding survivors fades, the community remains united in mourning and in demanding swift action to prevent a similar tragedy in the future.