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What we know so far:
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128 people, including a firefighter, confirmed dead
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79 injured, including 12 firefighters
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Status of 200 people unclear
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The eight residential blocks in the estate had been undergoing renovations since July 2024, covered in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh
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Authorities say highly flammable styrofoam material used in renovation works caused fire to spread rapidly
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Government has launched criminal investigations to find cause of blaze
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11 people arrested so far, 8 by anti-corruption unit ICAC, 3 by police for manslaughter
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Three-day citywide mourning, until Monday, national and Hong Kong flags at half-mast
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Seven Indonesian helpers confirmed dead, 19 Filipino remain missing, with special arrangements under way
Hong Kong began three days of official mourning on Saturday for victims of the city’s deadliest fire in seven decades.
Officials led by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu observed a three-minute silence at the government’s headquarters in the morning, with condolence books being set up across all 18 districts between 9am and 9pm until Monday for members of the public to leave their messages.
National and Hong Kong flags at all government buildings and facilities, including offices abroad, will also fly at half-mast from Saturday to Monday.
As of Friday, the inferno which engulfed the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po has claimed 128 lives, with the status of 200 still remaining uncertain.
Recovery work continues on the fourth day as raging flames in all blocks have been brought under control.
The fire was first reported at 2.51 pm on Wednesday and quickly escalated to the highest No 5 fire alarm blaze. Huge plumes of dark smoke billowed high into the sky as the flames rapidly spread to seven of the eight blocks in the estate.
Hotlines for help:
Casualty inquiry hotline of police: 1878 999
Health Bureau’s Mental Health Support Hotline: 18111
Tai Po District Office help desk at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital for assistance and public inquiries: 2658 4040.
Follow the latest live updates below and read about earlier events here.
More from our coverage:
– ‘Our spirit is tougher’: Hong Kong fire survivor’s ordeal and rescue
– Want to donate in cash or kind? How to help Hong Kong’s embattled fire victims
– Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades spurs outpouring of aid for victims
– Hong Kong contractor for fire-hit Tai Po project has record of safety offences
Reporting by Harvey Kong, Matthew Cheng, Xinmei Shen, Mike Chan, Jeffie Lam and Jess Ma