In Hong Kong, residents affected by a major fire at an apartment complex last year have started returning to retrieve their belongings. The fire, which was the deadliest in the city in decades, claimed the lives of 168 people and severely damaged seven out of eight apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court complex in November.
Approximately 6,000 residents have been allocated three-hour time slots starting Monday to access their homes and gather their possessions. The authorities aim to complete this process by early May as there are 1,700 flats to be inspected.
Residents were seen arriving at the estate via government-arranged shuttle buses, following safety protocols such as wearing face masks, hard hats, and gloves. The fire department cautioned that over 920 homes were impacted, with some being completely destroyed by the blaze.
Sections of the residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district have been marked as “danger zones” due to structural damage, with necessary reinforcement work already undertaken. Upon entering their flats, residents like 50-year-old Mr. Chung came prepared with tools like screwdrivers and scissors to navigate the debris and potential hazards.
Survivor Harry Leung, who had emotions as he returned to the complex where he had lived for most of his life, expressed disappointment at the limited three-hour timeframe allowed for the visit. While officials have proposed repurchasing the apartments at pre-fire market rates, the idea of rebuilding on the same site has been deemed unfeasible.
One resident, Betty Ho, shared her eagerness to recover her childhood photo albums from her flat where her family’s cherished possessions are stored. Having temporarily relocated to housing provided near the estate, she expressed concerns about future accommodation uncertainties and the looming possibility of eviction.
As the residents grapple with the aftermath of the tragic incident, the community remains resilient in the face of challenges and uncertainties surrounding their living situations.
