Hong Kong High Rise Inferno: 44 Dead, 279 Missing; Three Suspects Arrested
Investigators blame flammable renovation materials for rapid fire spread as President Xi orders full rescue efforts.
BEIJING/HONG KONG, Nov 27: The death toll from the massive fire that tore through multiple high rise towers in Hong Kong has climbed to 44, while 279 residents remain missing, Chinese official media reported on Thursday.
According to the Hong Kong Police Force, three men have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the devastating blaze that erupted in Wang Fuk Court on Wednesday. The suspects aged between 52 and 68 include two company directors and a project consultant from a construction firm involved in the buildings’ renovation.
Officials said the fire is now regarded as the worst high-rise disaster in Hong Kong’s history, with at least 45 people injured.
Early police findings indicate that protective nets, waterproof canvas and plastic coverings used on the buildings may not have met fireproof standards. Investigators also discovered polyurethane foam used to seal elevator lobby windows a highly flammable material that may have contributed to the fire’s rapid spread.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday night expressed deep condolences over the tragedy and called for all out efforts in rescue and recovery. Xi instructed the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR to convey his sympathies to Chief Executive John Lee and to support local authorities in firefighting, search and rescue, treatment of the injured, and assistance to affected families.
