Hong Kong high-rise fire death toll rises to 160, six still missing

The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest residential fire in decades has risen to 160, after authorities identified an additional victim, police said on Tuesday, December 9. Six people are still listed as missing.

The fire, which engulfed a high-rise apartment complex late last month, is considered the world’s deadliest residential building fire since 1980. Authorities had previously reported 159 deaths after completing searches of all affected buildings.

Police Commissioner Joe Chow explained that the toll increased by one after forensic testing revealed that a set of remains previously counted included a second individual. During the clearing of fallen scaffolding around the towers, officers found a piece of “suspected human bone,” which is still pending testing.

Of the 160 confirmed fatalities, the identities of 120 victims have been established through DNA or fingerprint analysis.

Authorities noted that the fire, which occurred in an estate undergoing major renovations, was likely worsened by protective netting on the scaffolding that did not meet fire-resistance standards. Flames rapidly spread up the apartment blocks, which were wrapped in bamboo scaffolding. Foam boards attached to windows during construction further contributed to the fire’s intensity.

Chow stated that police will begin removing the remaining scaffolding and netting and will continue to search for any bodies that might still be present.

Tsang Shuk-yin, head of the police casualty enquiry unit, confirmed that six people reported missing remain unaccounted for, with police reasonably confident that three of them were residents of the Wang Fuk Court complex.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced last week the formation of a judge-led independent committee to investigate the fire.

Police have arrested 15 individuals from various construction companies on manslaughter charges, as well as six others in connection with fire alarms that failed to operate during the blaze.

By Tamilla Hasanova