On November 26, a devastating 5-alarm fire broke out at the Grand Fortune Garden in Tai Po, Hong Kong. As of 4 p.m. on December 1st, the death toll has climbed to 151, with over 30 people still missing, and some bodies burned beyond recognition. The inferno ravaged the interiors of the building, leaving a scene of utter destruction.
At a press conference on December 1st, Hong Kong authorities announced that the confirmed death toll had risen to 151, an increase of 5 from the previous day. A total of 8 bodies were discovered and moved from Hong Cheung House on the 1st, bringing the total number of newly found remains to 5. Out of the 104 bodies preliminarily identified, 39 are awaiting identification.
Lin Man-hin, Assistant District Commander of the New Territories North Region, stated that search operations had been completed in five out of the seven buildings, and efforts were underway to search the remaining two buildings. Despite safety concerns, authorities were swiftly working to search each unit one by one to ensure the process was thorough and efficient.
As of 4 p.m. on November 30th, search operations at Hong Sun House were three-quarters complete with no bodies discovered yet, while Hong Cheung House had one-quarter completed with 8 bodies found. Lin described the conditions inside Hong Cheung House as extremely dire, with some bodies charred beyond recognition, emphasizing the authorities’ commitment to locating any identifiable items to bring closure to the families of the deceased.
Over 40 missing persons cases remain unresolved, and with the discovery of additional bodies on the 1st, a significant number of individuals are still unaccounted for. Authorities are diligently working at the fire site to recover items related to the deceased for identification purposes.
In response to the tragic event, a joint effort by various departments including the Disaster Victim Identification Unit and Forensic Science Division continues at the scene for evidence collection, body identification, and registration.
Images depicting the aftermath of the fire show the building charred black, with interiors and walkways left in ruins. Furniture inside many units was completely destroyed, leaving only skeletal frames behind. Officers painstakingly sifted through ashes and debris for any possible clues.
Chief Superintendent Tsang Suk-yin, Head of the Disaster Victim Identification Unit, acknowledged the challenges faced in locating and identifying bodies due to the extensive damage caused by the fire. Her emotional plea for understanding was humbling as she addressed the difficulties encountered during the ongoing operations.
In a press conference held on December 1st, Secretary for Security John Tan, Secretary for Security Chris Tang, Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Simon Hu, and Director of Crime and Security of the Hong Kong Police Force Tan Dong provided updates on the investigation.
John Tan disclosed that samples collected from 20 locations within the Grand Fortune Garden revealed non-compliance with fire-resistant standards in seven samples from Hong Wan, Hong Tat, Hong Tai, and Hong Chi Towers.
Chris Tang revealed discrepancies in the fire-resistant materials used in the buildings and suggested possible tampering with the safety equipment. Investigations are ongoing to determine the parties responsible for the non-compliant materials found in the buildings.
Simon Hu highlighted the procurement process of the fire-resistant materials, indicating purchases made for inadequate protective netting from local suppliers during the aftermath of a typhoon in July. Subsequent purchases of compliant materials in October were subsequently installed, passing necessary safety tests.
The investigation into possible corruption related to the renovation of the Grand Fortune Garden remains ongoing, with 11 individuals arrested in connection to the case. Among those apprehended were consultants, subcontractors involved in the construction, and intermediaries associated with the project.
Efforts to gather evidence from the offices of the engineering consultants and subcontractors involved in the renovation project are actively ongoing to unravel the extent of the alleged wrongdoing.