Hong Kong Police Continue Search of Fire-Ravaged Towers as Death Toll Reaches 146
- SAUDI ARABIA BREAKING NEWS
- Dec 1
- 2 min read
HONG KONG, December 1, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Hong Kong authorities pressed ahead on Monday with searches of the remaining apartment towers destroyed by a massive fire that killed at least 146 people and displaced hundreds now living in temporary housing.
Police have completed sweeps of four of the seven towers engulfed in what officials described as the city’s deadliest fire in more than 75 years, finding bodies in stairwells and on rooftops where residents were trapped as they attempted to escape.Vigils continued for victims, including at least nine domestic helpers from Indonesia and one from the Philippines.
Lines of mourners stretched more than a kilometre along a canal beside the Wang Fuk Court estate on Sunday. Additional vigils are planned this week in Tokyo and London. Authorities said around 40 people remain missing.
The cause of the blaze, which began last Wednesday and rapidly spread across the exterior of the towers undergoing renovation, is still under investigation. Public frustration has grown over earlier fire-risk assessments and reports of unsafe construction practices. Beijing warned it would crack down on any attempts to use the disaster to stage “anti-China” protests.
Sources said one individual involved in a petition calling for an independent investigation has been detained. Police declined to comment on specific cases, stating only that actions would be taken according to the law.
Final Searches Move to Most Damaged Buildings
Amy Lam, a senior police official, said the remaining buildings to be searched are “the difficult ones”, and the final phase of operations could take weeks. Images released by police showed officers wearing protective suits and masks inspecting rooms reduced to ash and debris, and moving through water-damaged areas after days of firefighting.
More than 4,000 people lived in the affected blocks. Authorities said over 1,100 residents have been moved from evacuation centres into temporary housing, while 680 others are staying in youth hostels and hotels. Emergency funds of HK$10,000 ($1,284) per household have been provided, along with assistance for replacing identity documents.
Investigation Leads to 11 Arrests
The fire—Hong Kong’s deadliest since a 1948 warehouse blaze that killed 176 people—comes days before legislative elections. Authorities have arrested 11 people in relation to possible corruption and the use of unsafe materials during renovations. Officials said the building had been wrapped in green mesh and bamboo scaffolding with foam insulation, while fire alarms were not functioning properly.
Residents had previously raised concerns about potential hazards. In 2024, the Labour Department told them fire risks were “relatively low” following complaints about the flammability of construction materials.
Police on Saturday detained Miles Kwan, 24, who had helped organise a petition calling for an independent investigation into corruption and construction oversight, two people familiar with the matter said. Reuters witnesses saw Kwan leave a police station on Monday. The South China Morning Post reported that two others have been arrested on suspicion of seditious intent. Police declined to comment on the reported arrests.
China’s national security office warned on Saturday against attempts to “disrupt Hong Kong through disaster”, saying those who do so “will certainly be held accountable and strictly punished”.
