The Hong Kong Observatory's website has turned black and white in a rare gesture mourning the victims of the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po, while issuing a red fire danger warning as dry conditions persist.
The observatory's website changed its display early Friday following the No.5-alarm blaze that has caused numerous fatalities. The page continues to show the red fire danger warning, urging public vigilance against fire risks.
Weather conditions have turned cool and very dry, with urban temperatures dropping to 16-17 degrees Celsius Thursday morning and some New Territories areas recording even lower readings. Relative humidity has fallen to 40 percent or below.
The observatory forecasts mainly fine weather with minimum humidity potentially dropping to 25 percent during the day. Temperatures will reach around 22 degrees with moderate to fresh northerly winds, strong offshore and on high ground initially.
Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Koto was located about 300 kilometers north-northwest of the Nansha Islands at 5am, expected to move slowly westward across the southern South China Sea with minimal direct impact on Hong Kong.
The dry conditions have prompted additional warnings for fire safety as the community mourns the tragedy.
