HONG KONG—A devastating five-alarm fire in the Tai Po public housing estate of Wang Fuk Court, which resulted in significant casualties, has been compounded by explosive allegations that critical fire alarms failed to activate, trapping residents.
A highly circulated video emerged online this week, purportedly showing a resident frantically trying to sound an alarm as the fire rapidly intensified on Nov. 26. The 22-second clip, shared widely on Thursday, Dec. 1, appears to validate residents’ claims that the vital warning system remained silent, despite the escalating danger. Official investigations have since uncovered that the fire alarms in all eight blocks were “switched on but mute,” depriving residents of crucial time to escape.
The video, which the uploader claims was captured by a closed-circuit television camera outside an apartment in Wang Hin House of the estate, shows a male resident striking a fire alarm with a hard object around 3:28 p.m. on November 26. This timestamp coincides with the moment the Fire Services Department escalated the incident to a three-alarm level. Despite the visible exertion, the audio confirms that no alarm sounded.
In the distressing footage, as the man works on the panel, a middle-aged woman approaches, asking urgently, “Is there a fire extinguisher downstairs? The fire is burning terribly there.” The man replies, “No,” before heading toward a back staircase, presumably to flee the immediate danger.
The failure of the safety systems has ignited public fury and intensified scrutiny of the building’s maintenance and inspection protocols. Numerous residents who survived the inferno have reported that they received no warning sound, significantly stalling their attempts to evacuate.
Timeline of Tragedy and Systemic Failure
The inferno at Wang Fuk Court, which started at 2:51 p.m. on November 26, escalated quickly:
- 2:51 p.m.: Fire breaks out.
- 3:02 p.m.: Fire escalated to three alarms.
- 3:28 p.m.: Footage shows the fire alarm failing.
- 3:34 p.m.: Fire escalated to four alarms.
- 6:22 p.m.: Fire escalated to the highest level, five alarms.
This timeline highlights the critical window when an audible alarm could have saved lives before the fire became uncontrollable.
Commenters online reacted with shock and anger to the leaked video. One user wrote, “If the alarm can’t be pressed, the fire hose probably has no water either. How can people save themselves?” Another lamented the failure of essential safety measures, stating, “This is life-or-death; everyone really needs to check their own systems thoroughly.”
The tragedy has grown more poignant with ongoing reports of the victims. Among the confirmed fatalities were a 16-year-old girl, her grandmother, and her uncle, all of whom succumbed in the blaze. The girl’s boyfriend shared a heartbreaking farewell, leaving a graduation memento at the scene, underscoring the personal toll of what appears to be a preventable disaster.
Independent investigations by authorities, including the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), are reportedly focusing on accusations of deeper systemic fraud. Earlier reports indicated that contractors may have used deceptive tactics during safety inspections, allegedly purchasing small amounts of fire-retardant materials to “mix in” with non-compliant piles, allowing them to pass compliance tests fraudulently.
The mounting evidence of negligence and potential corruption in fire safety compliance promises a lengthy and arduous legal process, raising critical questions about governmental oversight and the accountability of contractors managing public housing infrastructure across the city. Authorities have yet to comment directly on the authenticity of the circulated video but confirmed the general failure of the alarm system across the complex. Citizens are demanding immediate, comprehensive safety reviews of similar properties to prevent a recurrence of this lethal failure.
Leave a Reply