The death toll from the catastrophic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has risen to at least 128, with more than 200 people still believed to be missing.
Dozens of others have sustained injuries as rescue teams prepare to conclude operations on Friday.
The blaze, which erupted on Wednesday afternoon, swept through the eight-block residential complex, leaving four towers fully extinguished and three others under control. The scale of destruction has slowed and made search efforts hazardous, with emergency workers continuing to sift through damaged floors.
Authorities have detained three senior employees from the construction firm responsible for ongoing renovation work at the estate on suspicion of manslaughter.
Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption has also expanded its investigation, taking eight individuals into custody, according to reports from the South China Morning Post.
Local media identified the detainees as seven men and one woman aged between 40 and 63. Among them are two project managers from the architectural company overseeing the renovation works at Wang Fuk Court.
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