In the latest phase of the investigation, six individuals were arrested on suspicion of making false representations to the Fire Services Department by deactivating sections of the fire-alarm system during maintenance. Residents reported that some alarms failed to sound when the fire broke out, though officials have not determined how extensive the malfunction was across the estate.
The arrests follow a broader corruption probe announced Tuesday that targets alleged negligence in the renovation contract. Fifteen people—among them contractors, site supervisors and procurement staff—were detained by police and the city’s anti-corruption agency on allegations ranging from bribery to failure to meet safety standards.
Although firefighters have examined most of the interior spaces, 19 of the recovered bodies have yet to be formally identified. The confirmed dead include 10 migrant domestic helpers—nine from Indonesia and one from the Philippines—and a firefighter who collapsed while battling the blaze.
Investigators have not pinpointed the precise cause of the initial ignition. However, forensic teams are analyzing electrical wiring, construction materials and witness statements to establish how the fire started and why it spread so quickly. Results of those inquiries are expected to guide any further criminal charges or regulatory action.
Renovation work at Wang Fuk Court began in August and was scheduled to run into early next year. Residents said contractors installed temporary foam insulation panels over windows and wrapped external walls in mesh designed to prevent falling debris. Preliminary assessments by fire engineers suggest both measures created a chimney effect, channeling heat and flames upward.
The Hong Kong Fire Services Department, whose guidelines mandate active alarm coverage during building works, states that suppression systems may only be disabled with written approval and must be restored immediately afterward. Details of those requirements are published on the department’s official website.
The discovery that some alarms were allegedly switched off has intensified scrutiny of safety oversight in the territory’s public-housing sector. Legislators have called for a review of inspection protocols, and the city’s Housing Authority said it is cooperating fully with investigators.
Medical teams from local hospitals treated more than 70 survivors for burns, smoke inhalation and impact injuries sustained while escaping. Most have been discharged, though several patients remain in intensive care. Psychological counseling centers have been set up in nearby community halls to support relatives and neighbors.
Search teams equipped with cadaver dogs and thermal imaging devices continued to work overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, focusing on blocked stairwells and lift shafts inside Tower 8—the only building where full interior access remains restricted because of structural hazards. Engineers must secure loose scaffolding sections before crews can proceed to the upper floors.
City officials have promised temporary housing for displaced residents, many of whom lost all belongings. Social workers are coordinating emergency cash grants and replacement identity documents while structural assessments determine whether any towers can be salvaged.
A government spokesperson said updates on victim identification and the status of the missing will be released daily. Funerals for those confirmed dead are expected to begin later this week, pending completion of post-mortem examinations.
As Hong Kong marks one of the deadliest residential fires in its recent history, investigators and regulators face growing pressure to establish accountability for the failures that allowed the blaze to claim 159 lives and leave dozens more unaccounted for.
Crédito da imagem: Associated Press
