Hong Kong Residential Tower Fire Extinguished; Death Toll Reaches 128

Hong Kong: A massive fire that swept through a densely populated residential complex in the Tai Po district has been brought under control after nearly two days, with authorities confirming that the death toll has risen to 128. Dozens of residents are still missing, and families continue to search hospitals and shelters in hopes of locating their loved ones.

According to officials, the blaze erupted on Wednesday afternoon at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate, rapidly spreading across eight 36-storey buildings. The fire engulfed large sections of the complex, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.

Fire services reported that after almost 40 hours of continuous operations, the blaze was finally contained on Friday at 10:18 a.m. local time, marking the end of an intense firefighting effort.

The incident is one of the deadliest residential fires in Hong Kong in recent decades and has raised serious concerns about building safety standards, emergency preparedness, and evacuation measures in high-rise housing complexes. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the fire and potential lapses in safety compliance.