Prime Minister Lawrence Wong sent a condolence letter to Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee on 28 Nov, following the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.
PM Wong expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives in the blaze.
His thoughts were with families who lost loved ones and those injured in the incident, including those hurt during rescue operations.
The letter conveyed condolences on behalf of the Singapore Government, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement.
PM Wong expressed confidence in Hong Kong’s ability to overcome the tragedy, noting that the city has consistently demonstrated resilience in facing adversity.
Fire Devastates Residential Complex, Claims 128 Lives
The fire broke out on the afternoon of 26 Nov at Wang Fuk Court, a residential complex in Tai Po.
The blaze rapidly escalated into one of Hong Kong’s worst fires in decades.
Flames tore through bamboo scaffolding and spread to seven residential blocks.
Huge plumes of smoke billowed across the Tai Po neighbourhood as the inferno consumed the buildings.
The death toll reached 128 people, with a further 200 people still missing.
Among the fatalities was a firefighter who died while responding to the emergency.
Authorities Investigate Substandard Materials, Arrest Three
Hong Kong police arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter.
The arrested individuals include two directors and one engineering consultant from the construction firm responsible for recent maintenance work on the building.
Authorities stated they had reason to believe the company was “grossly negligent” in their operations.
Investigators found that the firm allegedly used substandard flammable materials during the renovation work.
These materials included polystyrene and non-fireproof mesh on the building’s exterior and windows.
The use of such materials may have allowed the fire to spread uncontrollably across multiple buildings.
