December 2nd marked the “seventh day” since the tragic fire at the Hong Kong Homi Plaza. Mr. Su, a family member of a missing individual from the Hongchang Building, visits the Guangfu Community Hall every day to search through photos in the hopes of finding any information about his parents.
The devastating five-alarm fire at the Homi Plaza in Tai Po, Hong Kong has claimed the lives of 156 people (including one firefighter who died in the line of duty) and left 79 injured, with around 30 people still missing. As of the 1st of December, search operations have been carried out in some buildings, with the most severely affected Hongchang Building having one-quarter of its floors searched, and the search efforts continued on the 2nd of December.
Reportedly, residents were not allowed to enter the fire scene that day, and the police provided photos of the deceased for family members to identify. According to Hong Kong 01 news, after the incident, Mr. Su and his wife have been going through the police photo album at the Guangfu Community Hall daily.
Mr. Su mentioned that he has seen photos of his parents’ residence, and their bodies are “no longer recognizable”.
Mrs. Su stated that parts of the remains have turned to ashes, but it appears that the two are embracing each other: “This is my imagination, because they were very affectionate and should not be separated. I believe they left this world embracing each other.”
It was reported that Mr. Su’s workplace overlooks the Homi Plaza, and his elderly parents in their 80s lived in the Hongchang Building, which was the first to catch fire.
Recalling the day of the incident, Mr. Su received a call from his mother at his workplace informing him of the fire at the Hongchang Building. He rushed home, a mere ten-minute journey, but upon arrival, the building was engulfed in flames.
“When I got downstairs, the fire was already large,” he said, noting that he was in constant contact with his mother. “She said she was walking downstairs, and then I heard her say, ‘This time I might die’, and the line went silent.” After recounting the events, Mr. Su and his wife embraced each other, weeping in sorrow.