William Li, 40, is one of the survivors of Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy. The deadliest inferno in decades set seven blocks in the Wang Fuk Court residential complex ablaze, claiming at least 128 lives as of Friday. Li was rescued from Wang Cheong House – the block that first caught fire – on Wednesday evening. Here is a translation of his personal account, which was first put up on his Facebook account.
On the day of the incident, I was resting at home. When I was informed of the fire through my wife’s call, I immediately changed clothes and prepared to leave.
The instant I opened the door, darkness engulfed me, as thick smoke swallowed me whole. I tried to activate my mobile’s torch, but visibility was zero and breathing became excruciatingly difficult. I immediately closed the door and stepped back inside the home.
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Momentarily at a loss, I called my wife again, only to find her utterly distraught. I asked if I could escape by rushing through the emergency exit to the lobby. She replied that the lobby had become a sea of flames! In that instant, I knew my final escape route was cut off.
I would be imprisoned within this purgatory called “home”. I could only wait helplessly and passively. Wait for rescue. I calmed myself, found towels in the house, and tried to wet them as much as possible.
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Suddenly, I heard cries coming from the corridor outside the door. Grabbing the wet towels, I rushed out without hesitation.