The search continues for victims of the No.5-alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, with families frantically seeking news of missing loved ones, including a 16-year-old female student.
Student Lai Hoi-kei, her 70-something grandmother, and her uncle, who live in Unit 1605 of Wang Tai House, remain missing since the massive blaze broke out on Wednesday, November 26.
Lai's boyfriend, Mr Leung, said Lai had returned home from school and reported the situation via WhatsApp around 3pm. She messaged at 3.08pm: “There’s a fire next door.” She sent another text at 3.15pm saying: “It’s spreading to us.” Her last message, sent at 3.23pm, simply read: “So painful,” before contact was lost.
Lai’s grandfather was downstairs at the time of the fire and was found safe that evening. However, the whereabouts of Lai, her grandmother, and her uncle are still unknown.
Leung and Lai’s elder brother have repeatedly contacted the Fire Services hotline and confirmed the unit address and location. They have also searched community centers and hospitals, and even viewed photos of deceased bodies released by police and fire services at the scene, but have not yet found their family members. They also posted appeals on the social media platform Threads, hoping for media assistance to locate their relatives.
Following the fire, a large number of residents were evacuated, with some left homeless. Many spent the night outdoors at a public plaza in Kwong Fuk Estate, sheltering under blankets. Kind residents spontaneously brought supplies like blankets, bottled water, and bread, temporarily turning the plaza into an aid station.
A Mr Yu was also at the scene yesterday, initially hoping to help rescue trapped animals. However, he revealed the parents of a friend who emigrated to Canada also lived in Wang Fuk Court and are still missing. “I’ve been looking for a long time, and I’m panicking,” he said. His friend asked him to watch for any possible clues at the scene, but he has found nothing yet.
Firefighters are still searching multiple units following the major casualties and disappearances, as anxious families wait for definitive news.
