The deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court continues on Thursday morning after raging for over half a day, leaving desperate families anxiously waiting for news of loved ones trapped inside the charred buildings.
Among them is Chung, a 10-year resident in Wang Cheong House, who reported that both his wife and their beloved cat remain trapped in their unit.
Chung recounted how he had rushed home around 3.30pm yesterday (Nov 26), only to find the buildings already engulfed in intense flames.
"The fire spread so quickly, it had reached the top in just 10 minutes, sending smoke everywhere" Chung said with a strained voice.
Despite continuously informing the onsite firefighters about his wife’s situation, he has yet to receive any updates.
His last contact with his wife was a phone call at 7pm, when she was in the bedroom and reported, "The smoke is too much, I don't think I can take it anymore."
Chung believed his wife lost consciousness shortly after and has not called since, fearing it could pose a danger.
Firefighters reached out to Chung early this morning (Nov 27) regarding a rescue attempt, but updates remain absent.
Chung’s brother stated that despite reaching out to hospitals and community channels, the family has found no information yet.
"I just want my wife to come out quickly–alive or dead. I don't want her to stay in there," Chung said.
Another resident, Lee, echoed the distress and has been waiting for news of his family since 3pm yesterday(Nov 26).
His last communication was a message reading, "The smoke is coming," before all contact was lost.
"I just received a notice this morning that firefighters have reached the 23rd floor, so I rushed over to wait," he said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Firefighting and search operations are ongoing.
