29 November 04:05
International
Sony Herdiana/ Shutterstock.com
Hong Kong has begun an official mourning period of three days following the devastating fire that killed 128 people and left approximately 200 others missing. The city's leader, John Lee, led a three-minute silence ceremony in front of the government headquarters, where flags were flown at half-mast. The fire occurred at Wang Fuk Court, a residential complex, and lasted more than 40 hours, affecting seven of the eight buildings. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which is believed to have been fueled by combustible materials and alarm system failures. Eight people have been arrested, including subcontractors and consultants involved in the project. Many victims are still hospitalized, and the community has mobilized to assist those affected, organizing collection points for donations. The government has activated a special victim identification system to help locate the missing.