A mourning period continues in Hong Kong as the official death toll from the devastating apartment fire on November 26 has risen to 156 individuals as of December 2. About 30 people remain missing, marking the fire as the deadliest in the city in over 70 years.
The fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po resulted in casualties from various sectors of Hong Kong’s populace, including seven Indonesian migrant workers, one Filipina domestic helper, a firefighter aged 37 who perished during rescue operations, and numerous elderly residents of the eight-tower housing complex.
The Filipino victim was identified by Manila’s consulate as Maryan Pascual Esteban, leaving behind her family in Cainta, Rizal, including a 10-year-old son. Esteban, like many migrant workers in Hong Kong, had chosen to work abroad to support her family financially.
The impact goes beyond the fatalities. More than 4,000 individuals resided in the public housing estate, many of whom were over the age of 65. Hundreds are now displaced, residing in emergency shelters or hotels as they cope with their losses.
Joey Yeung, 28, visited the site where her grandmother’s apartment was destroyed. “I can’t accept it,” she told reporters. “I’m not asking to get anything back, but at least give some justice to the families of the deceased – to those who are still alive.”
Hundreds of migrant workers gathered at Victoria Park over the weekend to grieve and pray for missing friends. Prayer vigils were organized throughout the city as communities expressed their collective sorrow.
Sudarsih, an Indonesian resident of Hong Kong for 15 years, reported that two of her friends are still missing. “God bless, they will be found quickly and are safe,” she stated. Another worker from Indonesia, Dwi Sayekti, 38, expressed her hope through tears that such an event would not repeat.
Jeffery Chan, a civil servant who paid his respects, described the collective grief: “As a Hong Konger, seeing people in the place where we live lose their families, lose everything in just one night – if you put yourself in their shoes, it is unbearable. They need encouragement, support, and help from the people of Hong Kong.”
The fire began shortly before 3 p.m. on Wednesday at Wang Cheong House, a high-rise building under renovation. Flames rapidly spread to six neighboring towers, trapping residents as extreme heat hindered rescue efforts.
The buildings were clad in bamboo scaffolding and safety netting for renovations, with windows covered by polystyrene panels. Officials discovered that some fire alarms failed to activate, raising pressing concerns about safety protocol breaches.
Andy Yeung, Director of the Fire Services Department, honored the fallen firefighter, who had served for nine years before succumbing at the scene and later at the hospital.
The disaster has significantly affected Hong Kong’s migrant worker community. Over 50 survivors have sought assistance from the Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body, as reported by spokeswoman Shiela Tebia. Many women lack clothing and have lost their identification documents in the fire.
Tebia noted that survivors are still coming to terms with the event, experiencing insomnia and trauma. Nonetheless, she mentioned that they still feel compelled to support their grieving employers.
The government has pledged HK$200,000 (approximately $25,700) to each deceased victim’s family. Advocates argue that additional support is necessary for survivors who lost everything. Edwina Antonio, executive director at Bethune House migrant women’s refuge, called for financial aid inclusion for migrant workers, often their families’ sole providers.
Hong Kong observed a three-minute moment of silence on Saturday morning, with flags at half-mast citywide. Residents signed condolence books in all 18 districts, leaving messages for the victims. A continuous flow of mourners placed flowers at the memorial near the burned towers.
The Hong Kong police Disaster Victim Identification Unit continues its extensive search through the buildings, recovering bodies from apartments and rooftops. The search has been challenging, particularly in darker areas.
Eleven individuals, including construction company directors and renovation project managers, have been arrested as investigations explore whether safety violations contributed to the incident.
At present, the city remains in mourning, unified in the hope of preventing future tragedies of this magnitude.