Hong Kong fire death toll reaches 128; dousing operation concludes, Styrofoam boards blamed
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – According to local officials and the authorities on Friday stated that after days of firefighting operation to douse the blaze in the high-rise buildings of Hong Kong’s Tai Po, the dousing operation has concluded with 128 dead and 200 still missing.
Local media reported that the major Hong Kong fire that erupted on Wednesday night has been extinguished, with the death toll now climbing to 128 and around 200 people still missing.
Hong Kong Security Chief Chris Tang Friday confirmed that the rescue efforts at the residential development have now concluded.
He announced an end to the days-long dousing operation by around 800 firefighters, the fire department said that the flames were “largely extinguished” as of Friday.
The authorities have only been able to identify 39 bodies so far out of 128 reported Hong Kong Free Press.
The blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po is being considered the deadliest blaze Hong Kong has witnessed in decades.
The major fire tragedy had occurred in 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse blaze in Hong Kong.
The police have apprehended three construction company officials on suspicion of manslaughter for using unsafe materials, including flammable foam boards blocking windows.
“In total, 11 firefighters were injured during the rescue operation, according to the Fire Services Department (FSD). One firefighter, 37-year-old Ho Wai-ho, was killed in the blaze,” HKFP reported.
As per HKFP reports, the use of bamboo scaffolding in the construction work of the building was being touted as the reason for the massive fire.
The use of netting to cover the scaffolding met safety standards, but the “Styrofoam boards found outside the buildings” windows were highly flammable,”.
The blaze that broke out on Wednesday afternoon occurred in seven towers.
Fire in three towers was doused by Wednesday night, but the blaze prevailed in another four towers the next day.
