On the afternoon of November 26, a serious five-alarm fire broke out at the Grand Fortune Garden in Tai Po, Hong Kong, resulting in at least 44 fatalities, 45 injuries, and 279 people missing. This fire is considered the deadliest in the 63-year history of Hong Kong. Former Miss Hong Kong, Grace Tse, revealed on social media that her grandmother’s house was also completely burned in the blaze. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
According to videos posted by the 2020 Miss Hong Kong winner, Grace Tse, on the afternoon of the 26th, a fire erupted at Grand Fortune Garden in Tai Po, where her grandmother’s house was located.
The videos showed flames leaping high into the sky, thick smoke billowing, and the fire continued to rage into the night.
In her post, Grace Tse expressed her deep sorrow saying, “My heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to all the victims, the injured, and all those who have lost their homes. Today, I watched helplessly as my grandmother’s house was engulfed in raging flames, making it a truly heartbreaking day.”
Grace Tse also reposted information from various community organizations on emergency shelters and rescue services opened after the fire, including youth service centers, community halls, churches, and teams providing animal accommodations, urging people to help spread the word.
According to Hong Kong media reports, Grand Fortune Garden consists of 8 buildings with about 2,000 residential units. Prior to the fire, the buildings were undergoing extensive renovations, including exterior wall refurbishment, repairing eaves, and improving fire safety facilities. It was reported that the fire initially started at the scaffolding outside the Hung Cheong House of Grand Fortune Garden, and it spread upwards along the scaffolding, affecting buildings like Hung Tai House and Hung Sun House, with only one building left unaffected.
Regarding the cause of the fire, Taiwanese fire expert Lin Jinhong told BBC Chinese that it is currently inconclusive, but the spread of the fire is likely related to the scaffolding or protective net materials.
Three individuals in charge of the construction company responsible for the repairs at Grand Fortune Garden have been arrested by the police, including two directors and one engineering consultant.
Due to the impact of the fire, several schools in the Tai Po district have suspended classes on the 27th, while various entertainment events have been postponed or cancelled. Celebrities such as Nicholas Tse, Joey Yung, and William Chan have taken to social media to express their prayers and support for the affected residents.