HONG KONG, September 18 – Devastating footage has emerged revealing the final, frantic attempts of construction workers to escape a catastrophic fire last week at the Tai Po apartment complex, Kwong Fuk Court, a tragedy that claimed at least 159 lives. Newly released amateur videos, filmed by one of the victims, show corridors instantly engulfed in thick, black smoke, documenting the horrifying speed with which the structure became a death trap for five maintenance crew members caught inside.
The five victims—three women and two men, aged between 46 and 75—were contracted workers focused on exterior tiling repairs when the inferno erupted. The victims include a female worker identified only by her surname, Lau, who captured the harrowing seconds before the smoke overcame them.
Videos Document Rapid Corridor Collapse
Two extremely short video clips, measuring just two and six seconds, paint a chilling picture of the disaster’s rapid progression. The two-second clip fixates on a window on the 31st floor hallway, where smoke is seen surging inward like a tide, instantly plunging the area into near-darkness. At least three workers are visibly present, their expressions etched with alarm as they realize the gravity of the situation.
The six-second clip captures auditory despair. A female voice, later identified as Ms. Lau, trembles as she urgently cries out, “Oh my God! It’s really a fire! Hurry and leave! We have to take the stairs!” In a moment of tragic denial, a male colleague responds briefly, “No need.”
Sources indicate Ms. Lau quickly sent these clips to her son, marking what would be their final communication. The footage serves as irrefutable evidence of the speed and intensity of the fire, transforming the apartment block’s exit routes into virtually impassable “death channels” within seconds.
Fire Spreads from Exterior Scaffolding
Investigators suggest the five crew members were working on the 10th-floor exterior, laying mosaic tiles outside the building, when the fire began. According to initial reports, they observed flames suddenly leap toward their work area, immediately igniting the protective netting and scaffolding surrounding the building.
The workers initially attempted to suppress the blaze, but the flames spread with unimaginable swiftness. Realizing the impossibility of battling the inferno, they frantically retreated back into the indoor corridor to alert and evacuate other technicians.
However, once inside, they found the building already thick with smoke. Visibility was zero, and the toxic fumes rapidly incapacitated them. Trapped and unable to find a clear path to safety, all five workers were later confirmed deceased.
Broader Safety Concerns for High-Rise Maintenance
The tragedy at Kwong Fuk Court, exacerbated by the rapid combustion of external materials, raises urgent questions about fire safety protocols for large-scale maintenance projects in dense urban environments like Hong Kong. High-rise construction and maintenance often rely on extensive nylon netting and other flammable scaffolding materials that can act as vertical fuel conduits when a fire breaks out.
Safety experts are calling for immediate reviews of materials used in external maintenance work, particularly in occupied residential buildings. The five victims, focused simply on their daily tasks, are a stark reminder of the devastating consequences when structural fire safety mechanisms fail or when highly flammable components are introduced near active residences. Authorities are continuing to investigate the exact cause of the initial blaze but the emerging footage underscores the critical need for foolproof emergency evacuation plans and non-combustible construction materials in vulnerable high-rise environments.
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