A massive fire that engulfed multiple high-rise buildings in Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon has claimed at least 128 lives,with approximately 200 people still unaccounted for,authorities reported. The blaze, which originated on scaffolding surrounding a residential complex at Wang Fuk Court, rapidly spread to seven of the eight towers.
The disaster is intensifying scrutiny of building safety regulations in Hong Kong, particularly the continued use of bamboo scaffolding. Residents had previously alerted authorities to potential fire hazards, raising questions about preventative measures and response preparedness.Only 39 of the 128 fatalities have been identified as of Thursday.
The fire’s rapid escalation was fueled by scaffolding protection nets, polystyrene panels, and the bamboo scaffolding itself, according to investigators. Hong Kong officials had rejected a proposal to ban bamboo scaffolding in July, but following the devastating fire, head of administration Eric Chan announced a swift transition to steel scaffolding.
The scale of the tragedy has prompted a wider examination of fire safety standards in densely populated urban environments. The search for missing individuals continues as authorities work to determine the full extent of the damage and investigate the cause of the initial outbreak.
