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.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to res...
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint militar...
Georgia’s foreign trade data for January-July 2026 shows Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia as its top three export markets, highlighting its Middl...
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
Georgia’s foreign trade data for January-July 2026 shows Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia as its top three export markets, highlighting its Middle Corridor ambitions and complex economic ties with Moscow.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
Five years after Evergrande's debt crisis rattled global markets, founder Hui Ka Yan has been sentenced to life in prison, marking a dramatic new chapter in the downfall of China's former property giant.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment