Scaffolding collapse risk delays outer search at Wang Fuk Court

Government specialists were back at the scene of the deadly five-alarm blaze at Wang Fuk Court on Thursday morning as unstable scaffolding continued to pose risks and delay perimeter search operations.

The fire has so far left 159 people dead, with 140 bodies preliminarily identified, 19 pending confirmation, and 31 residents still unaccounted for.

Members of the Disaster Victim Identification Unit, the Forensic Fire Investigation Team, and the Fire Services Department returned to the site early this morning to continue evidence collection inside the burned-out towers.

Alongside them, personnel from the Government Laboratory carried out measurement work on ground-level scaffolding, while surveyors from the Lands Department used a wearable mobile mapping system combining laser scanning and photogrammetry to document the complex interior and exterior environment.

Authorities have finished searching all seven residential blocks affected by the fire. The next phase involves combing the outer perimeter for possible victims.

However, several sections of scaffolding have collapsed or are hanging precariously from the upper floors. Officials previously said bodies may be trapped underneath the debris.

Officials said the Fire Services Department and the Housing Department have completed preliminary structural assessments, but outer search operations cannot begin until it is safe to remove fallen scaffolding and heavy debris on the ground.

Forensic teams have also found suspected human bone fragments in multiple units. As the remains could not be confirmed on site, they will be sent to forensic pathologists and the Government Laboratory for analysis to determine whether they are human or animal. DNA testing will follow where possible to establish identity.

Investigators will continue reaching out to individuals who reported missing relatives but have yet to confirm their whereabouts, as the identification process is expected to remain complex and lengthy.