The death toll from Hong Kongโs most devastating fire incident in decades has climbed to 128, with emergency officials confirming that dozens of residents are still unaccounted for.
The massive blaze, which ripped through a cluster of residential estate buildings, has raised serious concerns after authorities revealed that fire alarms and critical safety systems in the affected blocks had been malfunctioning prior to the tragedy.
Rescue workers continued combing through the charred structure on Friday, racing against time in hopes of locating survivors. Families of missing persons gathered near the scene, anxiously awaiting updates as smoke and debris complicated search efforts.
Officials say investigations are now focused on determining the exact cause of the fire and examining why the faulty alarm systems had not been repaired, despite previous reports of technical issues.
The Hong Kong government has vowed a full probe, promising accountability and immediate action to prevent another incident of this scale.