Anger is mounting in Hong Kong after the city's worst fire in nearly 80 years tore through a massive apartment complex, killing at least 128 people and leaving 200 still missing.
Firefighters have mostly contained the blaze that destroyed the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in the northern district of Tai Po.
Authorities have launched a corruption probe and three construction company officials have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter for using unsafe materials, including flammable foam boards blocking windows.
The eight-tower estate housing more than 4,600 people had been undergoing renovations and was wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh when the fire started and quickly spread on Wednesday afternoon.
Questions are now being asked about what caused the inferno and if it could have been prevented.
A woman leaving a community centre where photos of deceased victims are used to identify bodies. Source: SIPA USA / Vernon Yuen
"This was preventable ... A lot of people did not do their duties," the 33-year-old said, also claiming that the renovation firm used "poor quality, flammable materials".
She said residents often saw construction workers smoking and cigarette butts were found along ledges.
"People kept asking what would happen if there was a fire. Everyone was very worried about this," she said.
According to the BBC, another homeowner who was abroad when the fire broke out said the renovation plans were "fundamentally shady".
"[Those in charge] used small favours to encourage unsuspecting elderly residents to support their plans," they wrote in a comment on Instagram.
Fire contained, 200 still missing
Hong Kong security chief Chris Tang said rescue efforts had now been concluded and at least 79 people, including 12 firefighters were injured, he said.
The confirmed death toll rose to 128 as of Friday afternoon in Hong Kong with 200 people still missing, according to Tang. That made it Hong Kong's deadliest fire since 1948, when 176 people were killed in a warehouse blaze.
By Friday, firefighters contained the blaze that tore through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in the northern district of Tai Po, containing it to four of its 2,000 units.
Rescuers battled intense heat and thick smoke for more than a day as they fought to reach residents feared trapped on the upper floors.
Firefighters worked through the night to bring the blaze under control after it erupted on Wednesday afternoon. Source: AP / Chan Long Hei
Tai Po is an established suburban district with some 300,000 residents located near the border with mainland China.
Volunteers have told SBS Cantonese that they drove through the night after the fire broke out Wednesday afternoon, delivering mattresses and blankets to affected residents with the assistance of local university students.
Frames of scaffolding were seen tumbling to the ground as firefighters battled the blaze on Wednesday, while scores of fire engines and ambulances lined the road below the development.
Video showed firefighters with flashlights searching through the charred remains of the towers on Thursday night.
Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of fire services, said most of the victims had been found in two high-rise blocks of the complex. He said firefighters had found residents who were alive in several of the buildings.
Volunteers deliver mattresses and bedding
Travis, a local man who works with an Australian bedding company, spent Wednesday night with around a dozen colleagues taking mattresses, blankets and pillows to affected residents in Tai Po.
His coworker Andy Lau went to a nearby university to get help from students, who were quick to join the mission.
"He goes there and takes around 20 to 30 students," Travis said.
"He gets those students to help in five different spots".
Andy Lau (left) and Travis said they wanted to help Hong Kong residents. Source: SBS News / Cameron Carr
When they got to the area around midnight, they saw that people were really "stressed out".
"They're still looking for their family," Travis said.
"There are still 200 and something people missing. It's very sad and you can't help them at the time."
Travis said he didn't feel like it was tough spending all night volunteering and it was an easy choice to do so, but it was sad at times.
"It's all we can do. We can only provide materials and there's nothing else we can do."
'Helpless and anxious'
Jane Poon has previously lived in Tai Po and now resides in Australia.
Speaking with SBS Cantonese, she said many people from her community regularly passed by the Wang Fuk Court housing complex when living in Hong Kong.
"Watching the estate like this is heartbreaking, and we're incredibly worried for the residents. Here in Australia, we feel helpless and anxious," she said.
"Everyone is asking how this could happen in such a developed society. A construction site should have rigorous fire safety protocols."
Former Tai Po resident Jane Poon. Source: Supplied
"We must demand accountability. We will continue to closely monitor developments. I know all Hong Kongers, both here and abroad, are deeply anxious.
"Everyone is worried about the residents of Wang Fuk Court who have lost contact and need to know their current situation. We hope for the swift rescue and family reunification of all affected."
Three men from construction company arrested
Police arrested two directors and an engineering consultant of Prestige Construction, a firm contracted to perform maintenance on the buildings. Police said those arrested were under suspicion of manslaughter for using unsafe materials.
"We have reason to believe that the company’s responsible parties were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties," police superintendent Eileen Chung said. Prestige did not answer repeated calls for comment.
Police seized bidding documents, a list of employees, 14 computers and three mobile phones in a raid of the company's office, the government added.
The fire is Hong Kong's deadliest in decades. Source: SIPA USA / Vernon Yuen
Hundreds of people have been evacuated to temporary shelters. Source: SIPA USA / Vernon Yuen
Hong Kong's sky-high property prices have long been a trigger for social discontent in the city, and the fire tragedy could further stoke resentment towards authorities ahead of a city-wide legislative election in early December.
This article is in collaboration with SBS Cantonese and with additional reporting from Reuters.
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