Hong Kong police to conduct full evidence collection, investigation into residential area fire

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong Police Force will conduct full evidence collection and investigation into the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po, which is expected to take three to four weeks, Chris Tang Ping-keung, secretary for security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, told a press conference on Friday.

"It is believed that the fire first broke out in the lower-level perimeter nets of Wang Cheong House, igniting foam boards and spreading rapidly to other buildings. This caused the glass to shatter, the fire to intensify sharply and spread indoors, resulting in a disaster with large-scale simultaneous ignition. High temperatures burned the bamboo scaffolding, and falling burning bamboo pieces set fire to other scaffolding nets," said Tang.

According to the security chief, firefighting, rescue and search operations were completed at 10:18 am on Friday.

The fire has claimed 128 lives, with approximately 200 people still unaccounted for, Tang said, adding that it cannot be ruled out that more bodies may be found when the police enter the scene for investigation later.

A total of 391 fire engine sorties, 185 ambulance sorties and 2,311 fire and ambulance personnel were dispatched. Twelve firefighters were injured, and Ho Wai-ho, from Sha Tin Fire Station, made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, said Andy Yeung Yan-kin, director of Fire Services of the HKSAR government.