Death toll in Hong Kong apartment complex fire hits 146

Following the massive blaze in the eight-apartment Wang Fuk Court estate, which authorities in Hong Kong claim has resulted in the discovery of 18 more human remains, totaling 146 people.

An update on Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in more than 75 years was held at a press conference on Sunday that included information on seven of the complex’s residential structures that had been burned for two days before being completely destroyed by Friday.

Additional 100 people are still unaccounted for and 79 are hurt, according to Shuk-yin Tsang, the head of the Hong Kong police casualty unit. Families stepped up the challenging identification process after the police had previously reported 128 deaths.

According to Cheng Ka-chun, the officer in charge of the police victim identification unit, the unit has so far discovered bodies on the roofs and in apartment buildings.

The entire search process, which includes removing all burned buildings, is expected to take three to four weeks, he added, adding that the unit “cannot rule out the possibility of further fatalities.”

More than 1, 000 people gathered on the scene of the fire on Sunday to pay their respects to the victims, some bringing handwritten notes and flowers, while others prayed.

Joey Yeung, 28, claimed she had traveled with her family and was in shock over the fire’s victims because she felt both mourning and angry with the people responsible.

“I don’t want to deal with it. So I went to the florist’s store today with my father and my family,” Yeung told the Reuters news agency. I’m not requesting anything, but rather to at least at least give some justice to the deceased’s families and those who are still alive.

Due to the tragedy’s repeated warnings from residents about risks and evidence of unsafe construction practices, Hong Kong’s public was outraged and dismayed over the tragedy.

The bamboo scaffolding and flammable foam boards used to protect windows during the renovations have been rapidly caught and spread the fire. Since last year, the buildings have been under renovation.

According to two people with knowledge of the situation, police detained Miles Kwan, 24, on Saturday as a member of a group that had filed a petition calling for an independent investigation into possible corruption and a review of construction oversight.

By the time the group’s online petition was closed on Saturday afternoon, it had received more than 10,000 signatures.

Late on Saturday, Hong Kong officials announced that they had ordered the immediate suspension of work on 28 building projects that the contractor of the complex, Prestige Construction and Engineering Company, had been working on, in order to ensure safety audits.

According to local authorities, three company officials are among the at least 11 people who have been detained in connection with the fire.

Authorities are working on longer-term solutions while the 4,600 residents who live in the eight high-rise buildings are currently residing in temporary shelters or city hotels.

According to Jeffery Chan, a civil servant who paid his respects on Sunday, “it’s heartbreaking.”