Agonizing Wait for Families Amid Hong Kong Blaze Tragedy

Fri Dec 05 2025 06:13:10 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Families in Hong Kong are anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones after a devastating blaze in a public housing complex left many missing and at least 128 confirmed dead. As rescue efforts continue, heart-wrenching stories emerge from survivors and their struggles to find hope.

A catastrophic fire in a Hong Kong public housing complex has resulted in at least 128 fatalities and hundreds missing. As firefighters worked tirelessly for nearly 24 hours to control the blaze, families like Mr. Chung's hold onto hope, desperately searching for loved ones amid the tragedy. Concerns grow over the rapidly thickening smoke that prevented many residents from escaping, and investigations into the cause of the fire are underway, with authorities citing potential negligence in building renovations.

Hang in there. Those were the last words Mr. Chung said to his wife after a huge fire broke out in their high-rise public housing complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district. It was around 3 PM local time when he received a panicked call from her, unable to escape their flat with their cat.

As he rushed home from work, he found the 31-storey building engulfed in flames, with black smoke billowing out. Firefighters took nearly 24 hours to tame the blaze that affected seven tower blocks, claiming at least 128 lives so far. Currently, 300 people remain unaccounted for, including Mr. Chung's wife.

Nearly 40% of the residents in Wang Fuk Court, where the fire broke out, are aged 65 or above. Many residents were trapped, unable to evacuate due to the rapidly thickening smoke that enveloped the building.

The tragedy highlighted serious safety concerns surrounding recent renovations that had been controversially implemented in the complex, raising alarms about flammable materials used during the project. As families await news, each moment becomes a painful reminder of the lives at stake.

Authorities have announced cash relief for displaced families, but for many, the emotional toll and search for missing loved ones far overshadow monetary assistance. Mr. Chung's determination to find his wife remains strong, as he refuses to lose hope, stating, I want to rescue her - whether she's alive or gone.\