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Hong Kong High-Rise Fire Death Toll Rises to 146 as Probe Targets Renovation and Safety Failures

Findings pointing to flammable renovation materials and failed alarms are driving arrests and a halt to the contractor’s other sites.

Overview

  • Police recovery teams reported 146 dead after locating additional bodies in the Wang Fuk Court towers, with roughly 100 people still uncontacted and 79 injured.
  • Preliminary findings indicate the blaze started in scaffolding mesh and raced upward as polystyrene foam panels ignited, while some building alarms did not sound.
  • Authorities have detained 11 people in linked criminal and anticorruption probes, including directors, consultants and subcontractors tied to the renovation work.
  • The government ordered three days of mourning, suspended 28 projects managed by Prestige Construction & Engineering for safety audits, and continues victim identification.
  • A student who launched an online petition seeking an independent inquiry was detained and charged with incitement to sedition, adding a political flashpoint to the tragedy.