A fire in a Hong Kong apartment reignited in the early morning, suspected to have been fueled by polystyrene foam; the death toll remains at 94, with 76 injured.
The fire at Hung Fook Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, has caused significant casualties. As of approximately 7:30 a.m. on the 28th, the death toll has risen to 94, including one firefighter who died in the line of duty; 76 people were injured, including 11 firefighters. Most of the fire was under control, but flames re-emerged from the building in the early morning. Why was the fire so difficult to extinguish?
According to Hong Kong media reports, the Hong Kong Hospital Authority stated that among the injured, 12 are in critical condition, 28 are seriously injured, 16 are in stable condition, and 22 have been discharged. Chan Hing-yung, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, stated in the early hours of the morning that the firefighting operation was largely complete and the fire could be extinguished completely before dawn. However, around 5 a.m., flames broke out in some buildings, and some flames fell from inside the houses.
Chan Hing-yung stated that the Fire Services Department will continue its full-scale rescue efforts and handle the remaining 25 requests for assistance. All units in the building will be demolished to ensure no one is trapped. The operation is expected to be completed by 9:00 AM. The number of missing persons will only be tallied after the entire rescue operation is finished.
The Fire Services Department stated that expanding foam materials were found in the building. An investigation team will be established after the fire is extinguished to conduct a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire, including the impact of the expanding foam on the fire and whether the fire suppression system was functioning effectively. Chan Ching-yung pointed out that preliminary observations suggest that expanding foam and other materials may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. He added that the fire area was too large, and during the rescue operation, debris and scaffolding continuously fell from above, making it difficult for firefighters to move upwards and for rescue vehicles to approach the fire scene.
Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer Lam Cheuk-ho stated that a total of 177 ambulances have been dispatched so far to assist in caring for 155 injured people. Hong Kong authorities have opened nine shelters, currently used by over 500 residents, and volunteers are continuously transporting supplies to the scene. Local secondary school students responded to calls on social media platforms, assisting with the transportation and distribution of lunchboxes after school.
