A Hong Kong inquiry into the Tai Po fire, which killed 168 people, concludes after reviewing over 1 million files and 80 witnesses, attributing the tragedy to systemic failures including combustible material accumulation and unclear government responsibility divisions.
Residents of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, returned on Saturday to collect belongings from their fire-damaged flats, five months after a deadly blaze killed 168 people, with 81 deaths occurring in one residential block. Ian Chu, a resident of Wang Cheong House where most deaths occurred, captured photos of the sea view from his flat facing Tolo Harbour before returning. The fire spread rapidly due to substandard netting used by contractors during renovations. Authorities allowed residents from two blocks a three-hour visit under a 15-day programme.
Survivors of the deadly Tai Po fire are returning to their damaged homes to retrieve personal items, with some facing significant physical challenges to access their former residences.
About 600 families from Hong Kong's fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court have requested a second visit to their flats, with residents of the hardest-hit tower returning April 23-28. Wang Cheong House (81 deaths) and Wang Tai House (82 deaths) were severely damaged in the Tai Po fire that killed 168 people total. Each resident will be accompanied by police, with psychologists and social workers deployed for affected households.
