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The death toll rose again in relation to a massive fire that ripped through multiple Hong Kong high-rise residential buildings, police confirmed via ABC News.
A 1-year-old infant was identified as the youngest person among the 159 killed, while a 97-year-old was identified as the oldest. Authorities have completed their search for bodies inside all seven of the eight buildings hit by the fire at the Wang Fuk Court estate, which initially broke out last Wednesday (November 26) and was finally extinguished last Friday (November 28), though about 30 people are still missing.
“We have not finished our work yet,” Commissioner of Police Joe Chow told reporters, adding that authorities would continue searching through piles of fallen bamboo scaffolding to see if any remains were still hidden via ABC News.
A green mesh wrapped around bamboo scaffolding on the buildings at the time of the fire was tested and ruled to not match fire-retardant standards, officials conducting the ongoing investigations confirmed during a news conference. The substandard materials were used in hard-to-reach areas by contractors during renovations, which was believed to have been done to hide the issues from inspectors, according to Chief Secretary Eric Chan via the New York Post. Foam insulation used by contractors was also reported to have fanned the flames, while fire alarms at the complex weren't properly working at the time of the incident, according to officials.
Harry Cheung, 66, a resident at Block Two in one of the complexes, said he heard "a very loud noise at around 2:45 p.m.," at which point he observed the fire in a nearby block.
"I immediately went back to pack up my things," Cheung told Reuters. "I don't even know how I feel right now. I'm just thinking about where I'm going to sleep tonight because I probably won't be able to go back home."
Tai Po is a popular suburban district in the northern part of the Sai Kung Peninsula located in the Eastern New Territories and is the third lowest population density in Hong Kong.