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China: Death toll from Hong Kong residential fire rises to 161
The death toll from a devastating fire that swept through a residential complex in Hong Kong has risen to 161, local authorities confirmed on Saturday, marking one of the deadliest disasters in the city’s modern history.
Hong Kong Police Commissioner Joe Chow Yat-ming stated that recent forensic examinations led to the identification of an additional victim through DNA analysis. The remains were linked to a couple previously counted as a single case, prompting an upward revision of the official death toll.
Authorities emphasized that identification efforts are still ongoing. DNA testing continues, and officials have not ruled out the possibility that more victims may be confirmed in the coming days. Police have requested DNA samples from around 100 households in the affected Wang Fuk Court complex to assist in the identification process.
The fire broke out on November 26 at Wang Fuk Court, a subsidized housing complex built in the 1980s. Flames raged for approximately 43 hours, destroying seven of the eight residential buildings and leaving nearly 5,000 residents homeless.
According to preliminary findings, renovation work may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. The buildings were covered with bamboo scaffolding and protective netting, while expanded polystyrene panels installed over windows are believed to have intensified the blaze.
In response, the authorities announced financial assistance measures for displaced residents. These include a housing allowance of 150,000 Hong Kong dollars over two years for affected homeowners, as well as a one-time payment of 50,000 Hong Kong dollars for both owners and tenants to support relocation efforts.
