The death toll from the devastating fire that ripped through a Hong Kong residential estate earlier in the week has risen to 146, authorities confirmed on Sunday, as recovery teams extended their search to additional towers within the complex.
Police said officers from the Disaster Victim Identification Unit uncovered more bodies after expanding operations into three further high-rises at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the site of what has become the world’s deadliest residential building fire since 1980.
Chief Superintendent Tsang Shuk-yin of the casualty enquiry unit told reporters that the figure could still rise.
“As of 4pm (0800 GMT), the latest death toll stands at 146. We cannot rule out the possibility of further fatalities,” she said at a press briefing.
On Sunday, more than 1,000 people streamed into the estate to pay their respects, forming long queues around the charred buildings.
Authorities have established an interdepartmental task force to investigate the cause of the blaze, which tore through the housing complex with overwhelming speed.
Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption has arrested 11 people in connection with the incident; three of them were also detained by police on suspicion of manslaughter.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian consulate in Hong Kong confirmed that at least seven of its nationals were among the dead, while the Philippine consulate said on Saturday that one Filipino overseas worker also died.
In the wake of the disaster, the Buildings Department has ordered a temporary halt to construction work across 30 private building sites as part of wider safety checks.
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