HONG KONG, CHINA – A wave of sorrow swept across Hong Kong on Sunday as thousands of residents gathered to mourn the victims of the catastrophic fire that tore through a residential complex earlier in the week. The deadly inferno, which engulfed the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po, has now become the city’s worst residential fire in decades — and the deadliest residential building blaze globally since 1980.
The first Sunday following the tragedy saw a massive outpouring of grief as people from across Hong Kong flocked to the small park adjacent to the charred buildings. What was once an unremarkable public space has now been transformed into a memorial site, drawing long queues of mourners. Dressed in somber colours and clutching white flowers, citizens waited patiently—some for hours—to pay their respects to the victims.
An AFP correspondent reported that the line stretched more than 1.2 kilometres through the Tai Po district, highlighting the depth of the city’s collective grief. The fire has shaken Hong Kong deeply, raising widespread questions about safety, accountability and the official response.
Death Toll in Hong Kong’s Fire Rises to 146
Authorities confirmed on Sunday that the death toll had increased to 146, up from 128 the previous day. Chief Superintendent Tsang Shuk-yin of the casualty enquiry unit stated that the Disaster Victim Identification Unit had expanded its search efforts throughout the estate. Additional bodies were discovered inside flats, on staircases, in hallways and on rooftops.
“As of 4:00 pm, the latest death toll stands at 146. We cannot rule out the possibility of further fatalities,” Tsang said during a press briefing.
The extensive structural damage inside the buildings has complicated the recovery efforts, with authorities noting that some areas remain hazardous for search teams.Hong Kong Launches Multiple Investigations Into the Blaze
In response to public concern, Hong Kong officials have established a dedicated interdepartmental task force to determine the cause of the devastating fire. Both the Hong Kong Police Force and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) have launched parallel investigations, signalling the seriousness with which authorities are treating the incident.
The ICAC has arrested 11 individuals so far, three of whom are also facing manslaughter charges. Meanwhile, local media — citing unnamed sources — reported that police made a sedition-related arrest connected to the fire. The individual reportedly detained is 24-year-old student Miles Kwan, who had been distributing flyers calling for accountability and an independent inquiry.
Police told AFP that they would “take actions according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the law,” but did not offer further comment on Sunday.
Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong expressed strong support for the city’s authorities, condemning what it described as attempts by “anti-China forces” to use the tragedy as a pretext to “cause chaos in Hong Kong.”
Of the 146 bodies recovered, police reported that 54 remain unidentified, and officers are still attempting to contact about 40 individuals reported missing. Fourteen people injured in the inferno are in critical condition, while another four are listed as serious.
The Housing Department, after surveying six of the estate’s eight towers, stated that there was “no immediate danger” to the structural integrity of those buildings. However, inspections will continue as residents demand assurances of safety before returning to their homes.
Beyond Tai Po, various districts across Hong Kong hosted additional mourning events, many attended by migrant domestic workers who traditionally have Sundays off. Prayer gatherings in Victoria Park and the Central business district drew more than 100 participants each.
The Indonesian and Philippine consulates confirmed that at least seven Indonesian nationals and one Filipino migrant worker were among the victims.
In the wake of the fire, the Buildings Department ordered a temporary suspension of work at 30 private construction sites across the city pending safety assessments. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Jockey Club announced that Sunday’s race meeting would be held behind closed doors. The organisation pledged to donate its entire gross income for the day—HK$70.2 million (approximately $9 million)—to a government-administered relief fund for victims and their families.
The tragedy has left Hong Kong grappling with shock, sorrow and rising calls for transparency and reform. As investigations continue and families search for answers, the city stands united in mourning—determined to honour the victims and ensure such a disaster never happens again.
