Firefighters have largely extinguished the No.five-alarm blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, with only four units still requiring attention as operations shift toward completing final searches and preventing flare-ups.
Fire Services Department deputy director (operations) Derek Armstrong Chan said early Friday that crews expect to finish breaking into all units across seven blocks by 9am to ensure no one remains trapped. Water continues to be sprayed on buildings to cool surfaces and prevent reignition.
The remaining 25 assistance requests are concentrated in Wang Cheong House and Wang Tai House, where the fire burned most intensely and caused the majority of casualties. Chan noted preliminary inspections found polystyrene materials in other buildings, which investigation teams will examine once the site cools sufficiently.
Assistant ambulance chief (New Territories West) Lam Cheuk-ho reported 117 ambulances responded to the incident, handling 155 casualties including 79 declared dead at the scene and 76 transported to hospitals. Eleven firefighters were injured alongside one fatality, with all surviving personnel in stable condition.
The final missing persons count will be determined after complete searches. Investigation teams will begin comprehensive probes into the fire's cause and responsibility once the site is secured.
