Hong Kong wraps up search and rescue mission as tower fire toll rises to 128

The Star

The Hong Kong government on Friday (Nov 28) said it had wrapped up the search and rescue operation for deadly the Wang Fuk Court inferno, as the death toll has risen to 128.  Read more at https://tinyurl.com/usyubtwy   WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

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00:00Hong Kong authorities said they had wrapped up their search and rescue operation for the deadly Wang Phuk Court Inferno.

00:08The death toll has risen to 128, and by the early hours of Friday, firefighters had largely contained the Inferno,

00:16which had burned since Wednesday afternoon, ripping through the housing complex in Tai Po District.

00:21Our firefighting operation is almost complete. Despite that, we are still carrying out firefighting operation to four individual units,

00:32and damping down to various units of the seven blocks are still in progress, so as to prevent the debris and embers from flaring up.

00:42And at the same time, we will endeavor to effect possible entry to all the units of the seven blocks concerned,

00:50so as to ensure that there are no other possible casualties.

00:55The estate had been undergoing renovation works and was wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh when the fire broke out.

01:01Authorities said most of the victims were found in two of the high-rise towers in the eight-block complex.

01:07Some survivors were rescued from several buildings, though officials did not provide further details.

01:14So many here to help, but I don't feel it's helpful and effective and functional and productive.

01:24And since from yesterday, I found many reminders.

01:28And then when I come out again, it's not a stress time.

01:31We came inside to identify many bodies and remind me to cover my face.

01:38Very, and some, maybe, some anger here, maybe ridiculous.

01:43Residents from a neighboring housing estate sought shelter in a nearby shopping mall on Thursday,

01:48fearing the flames would continue to spread.

01:51We almost had an old house.

01:54We didn't have any money on the land.

01:58We didn't even have any money on the land.

02:00We didn't even live to this place yet.

02:02Because I was also two or three of the friends that were here.

02:05But we only had any clothes on the ground.

02:08We didn't even have any clothes on the ground.

02:09We didn't even know what else to do.

02:11I don't know what to do later.

02:12I'm like...

02:14Across the city, people rallied to support displaced residents.

02:20Piles of donated clothes, blankets, shoes, and food

02:23were distributed at a donation point set up near the evacuation shelter.

02:27Police have arrested two directors and an engineering consultant from Prestige Construction,

02:46which was contracted to carry out maintenance works on the buildings.

02:50They are under investigation for manslaughter over allegations of using unsafe materials.

02:55Authorities said bidding documents, employee lists, 14 computers, and three mobile phones

03:02were seized during a raid on the company's office.

03:04The 40-year-old Wang Fook Court Complex comprises eight towers with nearly 2,000 apartments,

03:11home to about 4,800 residents.

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