Latest Large apartment building fire in Hong Kong: death toll rises to 151
The death toll after a major fire at a residential complex in Hong Kong has risen to 151. According to the authorities in the Chinese special administrative region, five more bodies have been found. People are still missing.
01.12.2025, 14:59
SDA
The authorities also announced that their investigations had revealed defects in parts of the safety nets attached to the scaffolding. During a press conference, representatives of the authorities said that seven of the samples collected did not comply with fire safety regulations. The total of 20 samples came from the seven affected apartment blocks in the Tai Po district.
Nets probably mixed in
According to the secretary of the safety authority, Chris Tang, it is suspected that the substandard nets were mixed in, as samples from easily accessible locations met the standards, but every seven from hard-to-reach locations were non-compliant.
Last Wednesday's fire disaster at the Wang Fuk Court complex also left 79 people injured, including firefighters. Anti-corruption investigators have so far arrested eleven people in the case. Shortly after the fire, police also arrested three men from a construction company on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter.
Reports of arrests after petition
According to Hong Kong media reports, the police also arrested a man at the weekend on charges of rioting. He is said to have launched a petition with others calling for an independent investigation into the fire and the responsibility of government officials.
At the same time, the Chinese National Security Protection Agency in Hong Kong accused "anti-Chinese elements" of spreading false information about the government's rescue efforts, for example.
