TAIPEI, HONG KONG — Bereaved relatives of victims in the devastating massive fire that engulfed seven residential towers in Tai Po this week are grappling with an agonizing wait for DNA identification, as authorities work to confirm the identities of the 159 people presumed dead. The blaze, which reached a rare Level Five classification, is believed to have originated in scaffolding covering the first two floors of Wang Cheong Court, where 70 of the victims resided.
The human toll of the disaster was brought into sharp focus Friday morning as family members attended the Kwong Fuk Community Hall for crucial buccal swab collection, hoping to provide closure for their missing loved ones. Ms. Chan, who fears her elderly parents perished in their low-floor unit at Wang Cheong Court, reflected on the traumatic process.
“I need to give them back their identity,” Ms. Chan said, fighting back tears following the brief sampling procedure.
Awaiting Confirmation Amidst Uncertainty
Like dozens of other families, Ms. Chan submitted DNA samples today, a procedure she was told would take three to four weeks to yield results. This extended timeline compounds the emotional trauma for those whose relatives are still unaccounted for, or whose remains are unrecognizable.
Ms. Chan recounted the painful unknowns that city officials shared with her: “They warned me they didn’t know if they would even find the bodies; they mentioned chances of them being washed away by water. They gave me many possibilities. I just have to accept it for now.”
Earlier during rituals to summon the spirits of the deceased, Ms. Chan said a fragment of remains, described as “very small and shrunken,” was located within her parents’ apartment, adding further uncertainty about whether it belonged to her mother or father.
Bureaucracy Undermines Recovery Efforts
Adding to the immeasurable grief, Ms. Chan described an overwhelming bureaucratic process necessitated by the scale of the tragedy. Even as she mourns the presumed loss of both parents, she and her sister must navigate numerous administrative demands, often involving long queues and rigid procedures.
“There are so many formalities we still have to complete,” she explained. “Every day, I have to queue, and even close relatives cannot step in to help. My sister and I must personally present our disaster victim certificates for everything.”
Ms. Chan criticized the adequacy of support services, noting that the pledged “one social worker per affected household” initiative has been insufficient. She detailed a draining routine, spending long days shuffling between four different districts across the city to submit applications for various relief funds and aid.
“Sometimes, I queue at 10 a.m. for a ticket, only to find they ran out at 11 a.m. I line up again for funding applications, sometimes until 3 p.m.,” she alleged, noting that some displaced families have yet to be successfully linked with a dedicated social worker.
The Need for Urgent Policy Clarity
The slow pace of administrative resolution deeply impacts the ability of survivors to return to normalcy. Ms. Chan, who recently started a new job, emphasized the difficulty of managing the crisis while maintaining professional life.
“I cannot take open-ended leave,” she stated. “My company has been very understanding since the first day, but I haven’t been able to return to work, and this is truly affecting my life.”
Perhaps the most daunting immediate challenge remains the lack of official death certificates for those presumed dead but still unconfirmed. Ms. Chan expressed concern over the formal procedures required by Hong Kong policy.
“I want to know the procedures,” she admitted, addressing the difficult prospect of proving her parents’ deaths without identified remains. “I hope they can resolve this quickly, because people need to get back to work and school. We need clarity.”
The government has yet to release a detailed timeline outlining how presumed victims—whose remains may be lost or unidentifiable—will be legally declared deceased, a vital step for settling estates and providing final closure to mourning families. Authorities continue to urge patience as forensic teams process the influx of DNA samples required to conclude the investigation into this devastating urban tragedy.
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