Residents displaced by Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades have begun returning to their damaged homes, hoping to recover belongings that survived the blaze.
The November inferno at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po killed 168 people and forced thousands from their homes, marking the city’s worst such tragedy in decades and surpassing the Grenfell Tower fire in scale.
The fire tore through seven high-rise residential blocks in the complex and burned for more than 40 hours, reaching the highest alarm level as firefighters battled to contain it.
Under a government-supervised programme, former residents are being allowed back into their flats for up to three hours per visit until 4 May, wearing protective gear including helmets, gloves and face masks.
Authorities say around 6,000 people are expected to take part, assisted by roughly 1,000 personnel, including firefighters. Strict limits have been placed on the number of visitors per flat, depending on the level of damage.
“I want to get back my computer most, as some photographs of my son are stored inside,” said one resident, adding he was unsure whether the time allowed would be enough.
Many are searching for small personal items such as jewellery, photographs and family keepsakes that may have survived the blaze.
A significant number of those affected are elderly, with more than a third aged over 65. Some face difficulties accessing upper floors of damaged buildings, where lifts remain out of service.
Months after the fire, questions remain over how it started and why safety systems failed. An independent inquiry is under way, with early findings pointing to human factors and widespread failures in fire protection measures.
Investigators are also examining possible corruption and safety breaches linked to renovation work, including the use of flammable materials that may have accelerated the spread of the flames.
Authorities have warned against attempts to politicise the disaster as scrutiny intensifies.
In April, officials ruled out redeveloping the site due to the time required and ongoing uncertainties, instead proposing a multi-billion-dollar buyout of affected properties.
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Every day, an elderly woman in China’s Shandong province looks forward to a video call from her son. He asks about her health, tells her he has been busy with work, and promises he will come home once he has saved enough money. She tells him she misses him. He tells her to take care of herself.
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