A catastrophic fire that destroyed many high-rise buildings in Hong Kong is now confirmed to have claimed the lives of at least 128 individuals. Due to the renovations the blocks were receiving prior to the fire, eight people have been detained on suspicion of corruption. Earlier, three more people were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
Although the source of the fire is still unknown, investigators claimed that protective netting and foam placed outside the windows helped it spread. The fire was the deadliest in the city in almost 70 years, injuring an additional 79 persons. Dozens are still unaccounted for.
Directors of an engineering firm and scaffolding subcontractors were among those detained in the corruption investigation on Friday, according to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
After the fire spread to seven of Wang Fuk Court’s eight residential buildings, 2,311 firefighters attempted to contain it.There is no longer any firefighting activity. At a press conference on Friday, the fire brigade stated that the fire had been completely put out by 10:18 local time . Additionally, it stated that 16 bodies are still inside the structures and that 89 dead have not yet been recognized.
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