Eight More Arrested in Hong Kong Fire Probe as Death Toll Hits 128
ICAC widens investigation into renovation-linked corruption after Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades.
Eight additional individuals have been arrested in connection with the catastrophic Wang Fuk Court fire in Hong Kong, intensifying a widening corruption probe just one day after three others were detained on Thursday. Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) confirmed the new arrests on Friday, marking a major escalation in the investigation.
According to Global Times, those detained include engineering consultants, scaffolding subcontractors, and a middleman suspected of wrongdoing tied to the building’s repair and maintenance works.
Firefighting nearly complete as toll climbs
Local officials said firefighting and rescue operations are close to concluding after days of battling the inferno, which has now claimed 128 lives. Up to 200 people remain missing, CNN reported, as authorities continue combing through the damaged towers of the Tai Po residential estate.
At least 79 people were injured in the blaze, which took firefighters 42 hours to bring under control, according to Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang. He warned that the death toll could rise as many victims have yet to be identified.
Safety violations under scrutiny
Wang Fuk Court — an affordable housing complex built in 1983 — is home to around 4,000 residents across 1,984 units. When the fire erupted, all eight towers were wrapped in green mesh and bamboo scaffolding for large-scale renovation works.
Xinhua reported that the blaze started on scaffolding outside one building before racing across six others. Early findings indicate that polystyrene boards and construction materials used during the renovation may not have met safety standards.
"These polystyrene boards are extremely inflammable, and the fire spread very rapidly," Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung said, as quoted by CNN. He noted the placement of such materials on residential windows was “unusual” and has been referred to police investigators.
Earlier arrests and citywide inspections
On Thursday, police arrested three men linked to the renovation project on suspicion of gross negligence and manslaughter.
Following the mounting concerns, the HKSAR government has ordered a citywide safety inspection of scaffolding and construction materials used in renovation projects, Xinhua reported.
With a death toll continuing to rise and corruption allegations deepening, the Wang Fuk Court tragedy is now prompting one of Hong Kong’s most sweeping construction safety reviews in years.
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