Hong Kong has announced three days of official mourning after a terrible fire destroyed a public housing building. The fire killed at least 128 people, making it the worst fire in the city in 80 years.
The fire happened at the Wang Fuk Court housing area in Tai Po. It burned for more than 40 hours. It took over 2,000 firefighters to finally put it out. Many people are still missing and dozens are hurt. The city is very sad, and people are demanding a full investigation to find out why this happened.
The fire was extremely large and spread very quickly. It burned seven of the eight building towers. Early information suggests that highly flammable materials used for recent repairs helped the fire move so fast. These materials included polystyrene panels on the outside of the building and plastic netting on the bamboo scaffolding. Now, many families are waiting for news. About 150 to 200 people are still missing, and 89 bodies have not been identified yet, which is very difficult for their relatives.
To show respect, flags in Hong Kong and China were flown at half-mast. The city's leader, John Lee, and other officials held a ceremony with a moment of silence. People have created memorial sites around the city where residents can go to pay their respects.
The police have started an investigation. They have arrested eight people for suspected corruption linked to the building's repairs. They also arrested three others for manslaughter. In a separate event, police detained a university student, Miles Kwan, because of a public petition asking for a full inquiry. The petition says that people in Hong Kong want the truth and justice.
This disaster has made people question building safety rules in the crowded city. As everyone deals with this great loss, the government must now work on recovery and also try to make the public feel safe again. People want answers and a promise that this will not happen again.