 |
| The fire was put under control this morning (HK Free Press photo) |
A full-blown investigation has been launched into the worst fire to have hit Hong Kong in modern times, after the death toll in the tragedy rose to 44 as of 7am today, November 27.
At least 279 others are missing and 45 of those
admitted in hospitals are in serious condition.
Around 900 people have sought refuge in shelters set
up to accommodate survivors of the deadly fire that engulfed seven of the eight
buildings in Wang Fuk estate, and is now mostly under control.
 |
| DETAILS HERE |
The death toll has made this the worst fire in Hong
Kong’s modern history, surpassing the 41 deaths that occurred in the fire that
struck the Garley office building in Jordan on Nov. 20, 1996, about 29 years
ago to date.
Among the dead was Ho Wai-ho, a veteran firefighter
who was sent to the scene shortly after the fire broke out. He died of injuries
at the Prince of Wales Hospital.
Chief Executive John Lee has described the fire as a
“massive tragedy” and vowed a full investigation.
 |
| Basahin ang detalye! |
Authorities said that three executive of the
construction company that has been carrying out renovation works – two are
directors and one a consultant - at the buildings have been arrested for gross
negligence, and could be charged with manslaughter.
The estate has been undergoing renovation since July
last year, and the buildings have been surrounded with bamboo scaffoldings,
with plastic green nets as protection against falling debris.
Investigations revealed that another highly
flammable material, styrofoam, had been used to seal windows during the construction, contributing
to the rapid spread of the fire.
 |
| 900 fire survivors sought refuge at the Tai Po community center (AFP photo) |
Officials at the Philippine Consulate remain under
alert for any news about Filipinos living in the estate, many of them foreign
domestic workers.
This was after reporting that a Filipina worker who
arrived in Hong Kong only the day before the fire, had been declared safe along
with her employer and a baby she was looking after.
The OFW, Rhodora Alcaraz Tunacao, had sent out a
video appeal for help at the height of the fire, saying she was trapped with
the baby and her employer in their flat.
One of her sisters, Abby, said they had been told
that Rhodora had been taken to a hospital and is safe, but they have yet to
hear from her directly.
The fire was first reported at 2:51pm on Wednesday,
and quickly spread due to the plastic net and the bamboo scaffolding being used
for the renovation work.
From being classified initially to a No 1 alarm fire
it was quickly raised by 3:34pm to No 4, and to the highest level No 5 at 6:22
pm. It was the first time that the maximum fire alert level was raised in Hong
Kong in 17 years.
The fire raged for more than 10 hours, making rescue
work difficult.
