As the confirmed human death toll from the Wang Fuk Court inferno climbed to 128 on Friday, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals disclosed the devastating impact on the estate’s many pets: at least 243 cats, dogs and other companion animals are known to have been inside the burning blocks when the fire broke out.
Firefighters working in hazardous conditions have so far managed to bring 92 animals out of the wreckage.
Some were carried to safety; others were found lifeless in the smoke-filled corridors and flats.
The SPCA has turned an open area outside Kwong Fuk Estate’s Kwong Lai House into a round-the-clock triage and reunification center, where surviving pets receive immediate veterinary checks, food, water and, whenever possible, a tearful reunion with owners who themselves lost everything.
Of the 243 animals on the charity’s impact list, more than 150 remain unaccounted for.
Teams from the SPCA, partnered with other rescue groups and dozens of volunteers, continue to enter accessible parts of the building alongside fire and police units, knowing that time is running out for any pets still trapped.
The charity has opened its 24-hour hospital in Wan Chai for emergency treatment, converted its Tsing Yi center into free temporary boarding for orphaned or injured animals, and issued urgent hotlines (2802 0501 during office hours, 2711 1000 after hours) for owners searching for missing pets or needing immediate veterinary help.
