By Ayomide Otitoju
The final death toll from the devastating November fire at a Hong Kong housing complex has risen to 168, city authorities confirmed on Thursday, seven more than previously reported.
The blaze at the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po District is now considered the world’s deadliest residential building fire since 1980. Initial reports following the disaster had identified 161 victims.
Announcing the completion of victim identification, Security Secretary Chris Tang said all remains had been accounted for. “All remains and bodies from the incident have been identified,” he stated, adding that the names of the deceased would not be released to respect the wishes of grieving families.
The victims included 110 women and 58 men, ranging in age from six months to 98 years. Among them were a firefighter, two interior decorators, five construction workers, and 10 migrant domestic workers.
The fire engulfed seven of the estate’s eight towers, which were undergoing renovations and wrapped in substandard netting, a factor authorities believe may have worsened the spread.
A judge-led independent committee has been formed to investigate the incident, while police continue probing its cause and are preparing a death investigation report for the coroner.
City leader John Lee said on Wednesday that authorities had arrested 16 people on suspicion of manslaughter and six others on suspicion of fraud. The city’s anti-graft watchdog also arrested 14 individuals over alleged corrupt practices linked to the case.
