The toll of confirmed victims has risen to 83 in the fire that devastated seven skyscrapers in Hong Kong. The government made this known. 76 people were injured, including 11 firefighters. Flames destroyed seven of the eight 31-storey blocks of the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po district. Some survivors were found on the stairs. The flames are almost everywhere under control, except on the top floors of three buildings. 280 people are still missing. It seems confirmed that the highly flammable polystyrene panels that had been placed on the windows of the elevator shafts caused such rapid spread of the fire.
The investigation
Hong Kong’s anti-corruption body said it had initiated an investigation into the renovation works of the residential complex.
“Given the immense public interest at stake, ICAC today established a task force to launch a comprehensive investigation into possible corruption in the major renovation project of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po,” the Independent Commission Against Corruption said in a statement.