Death toll in Hong Kong fire rises to 159, including a 1-year-old baby

The number of fatalities from the massive apartment fire in Hong Kong has risen to 159. Authorities reported that six individuals were taken into custody for allegedly disabling certain fire alarms during maintenance at the residential complex.

The youngest victim was a 1-year-old child, while the eldest was 97 years old. According to Police Commissioner Joe Chow, 91 women and 41 men were among those who perished.

Police confirmed that the search for victims in all seven of the eight high-rise towers affected by the fire has been completed. The blaze began last Wednesday and was fully extinguished by Friday. Around 30 residents remain missing.

"We have located 159 bodies, and 140 have been tentatively identified," Chow told reporters, describing the figures as an "interim summary" following the search. Officials will continue to inspect fallen bamboo scaffolding for potential remains, noting that the discovery of "suspected human bones" could increase the death toll pending forensic verification.

The fire erupted at Wang Fuk Court, located in Tai Po, a northern suburban district, which was undergoing extensive renovations. The buildings were surrounded by bamboo scaffolding and green protective netting at the time.

Authorities have detained 15 individuals as part of a probe into potential corruption and negligence linked to the renovation. Substandard plastic netting on the scaffolding and foam boards on windows reportedly accelerated the fire's spread.

Hong Kongs Secretary for Security, Chris Tang, stated that investigations are ongoing into the Binzhou Inspection and Testing Center in China, which issued safety certificates for the construction materials. The city plans to remove all external scaffolding nets from active renovation projects, with materials requiring testing before reuse.

Reports indicated that some fire alarms did not activate during the blaze, though it remains unclear how widespread the issue was. Six people suspected of deactivating alarms during renovation were arrested on charges of providing false information to the fire services department.

Among the victims, ten were migrant domestic workersnine from Indonesia and one from the Philippinesand one was a firefighter. Nineteen of the 159 fatalities have yet to be identified. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Author: Aiden Foster