A terrible fire at a public housing complex in Hong Kong has killed 146 people. This is the deadliest fire the city has seen in more than seventy years. The fire started last Wednesday at Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district. Firefighters did not fully put it out until Friday, and the search for victims continued over the weekend. The government has announced three days of national mourning because the country is shocked by the large number of deaths.
The fire spread quickly through seven of the eight residential towers. Many people could not escape from their homes. The rescue operation was very difficult because the buildings were badly damaged and dark inside. A police officer, Cheng Ka-chun, explained the challenges. He said, "It is so dark inside... it is very difficult to do the work, especially in places away from the windows." By Sunday, teams had only searched four of the buildings, but the number of victims was already very high.
After the fire, the area became a large memorial. Thousands of people, including local residents and foreign workers, waited in long lines to leave flowers and messages. The sadness was felt by everyone, both online and in person. One mourner, an Indonesian worker named Romlah Rosidah, noted how social media brought people together. She said the news spread online, "but [it] turned out their hearts moved." At the same time, community groups started collecting donations for the survivors who lost all their belongings.
Officials are still investigating what caused the fire. However, many people are already asking serious questions about building safety. They wonder if dangerous construction materials helped the fire spread so fast. This tragedy has started an important discussion about safety rules in Hong Kong, where many people live in tall buildings.
The national mourning period, with flags at half-mast and moments of silence, shows how deeply this event has affected the country. As families wait for news and the investigation continues, the fire will likely lead to stronger safety laws. The memory of this disaster will be connected not only to public grief but also to the changes it may create.