Hong Kong officials have held a moment of silence at the start of a three-day mourning period to remember those killed after the city's deadliest fire in nearly 80 years. At least 128 people are now known to have died in the fire which engulfed several tower blocks on Wednesday. Hundreds remain unaccounted for.
Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of corruption over the renovation works the blocks had been undergoing. Three others were detained earlier on manslaughter charges.
The Saturday morning ceremony was held outside government headquarters, and saw city leader John Lee joined by other Hong Kong officials to observe three minutes of silence. The flags of China and Hong Kong were flown at half mast.
The government has also set up memorial points across the city, where the public can pay their respects and sign condolence books.
Once it started, the fire quickly spread to seven of the eight blocks of flats in Wang Fuk Court, with over 2,000 firefighters working to bring it under control across almost two days. The cause has yet to be determined, but authorities noted that materials like polystyrene facilitated its spread.
Officials confirmed that an investigation will take place over the next few weeks, with police gathering evidence from the scene. Following the fire, anger has emerged from residents due to broken fire alarms and alleged negligence during renovations.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption noted the arrests of several directors from an engineering company involved in the renovation work. History trailing back to checks on Wang Fuk Court indicates inspection visits throughout the year prior.
Built in 1983, Wang Fuk Court provided 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 residents according to a 2021 census.
