Hong Kong Fire: Public Lines Up to Identify Bodies, Reviewing Over 50 Photos of Corpses is Heartbreaking

As of the evening of November 27, the fire at Hong Fuk Court in Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, has resulted in 44 fatalities and 58 injuries. (Video screenshot)

[People News] On November 27, families of the missing were permitted to visit the Tai Po Guangfu Community Activity Centre to identify bodies through photographs following the tragic fire at Hongfu Garden in Hong Kong. The atmosphere at the body identification site was emotionally charged. Some individuals who confirmed the deaths of their relatives broke down in tears, while others who were unable to identify any bodies left with sombre expressions.

According to reports from Ming Pao and Sing Tao Daily, several citizens received notifications on the 26th that they could view photos for body identification. The official identification site was established at the Tai Po Guangfu Community Hall. The body identification process commenced at 3 PM on the 27th, and it was reported that at peak times, over a hundred people were waiting in line to enter, with more arriving to identify bodies even into the evening.

Videos from the scene depict a large crowd of individuals with serious expressions, queuing to identify bodies, which left many netizens heartbroken: "It’s so painful to watch."

One citizen noted that upon entering the hall, staff would provide a set of over 50 photos of corpses, with each photo showing two to three angles to assist the public in identifying whether it was their missing family member.

A resident mentioned that the photos would be organised by gender. Additionally, the photos would include details about the circumstances of the body’s discovery, such as the floor unit and personal belongings found next to the corpse.

Staff on site would remind attendees to be psychologically prepared, as some of the photos might be distressing. If they felt uncomfortable during the process, they could take a break before continuing. There were also several psychologists from the Red Cross present, offering "emotional support."

Some individuals recognised their deceased relatives from photographs, leading to emotional breakdowns at the scene, while others required assistance from bystanders to leave, creating a heart-wrenching atmosphere. However, some people, not having seen images of their relatives' bodies, continued to rush between the assembly hall and the hospital.

This incident has revealed significant safety gaps in the Hongfu Garden community concerning construction quality and oversight. For example, during the fire in the Hongfu Garden community, which consists of eight 31-story buildings, no alarms were triggered; many residents only managed to escape after detecting unusual odours or receiving phone calls from distant family members.

According to a report by the BBC, this tragedy in Hong Kong has not only exposed systemic issues in building maintenance but has also sparked public outrage towards government oversight. Discussions and hashtags related to the 'Hongfu Garden fire' and 'fire safety law reform' have rapidly gained traction on social media.

Of particular concern is that many public housing estates across the city are still in the renovation phase. Numerous citizens have voiced their concerns online and to local media, stating that their buildings are shrouded in scaffolding, leaving them anxious, with some even temporarily relocating to stay with friends and family. They expressed that without immediate thorough investigations or even work stoppages, how can they assure them that another fire incident won't occur in the future?

This year, Hong Kong has experienced at least 8 scaffolding fire incidents. According to statistics compiled by former Hong Kong Legislative Council member Chen Peiran, a scaffolding fire occurred in an industrial building in Kwun Tong in January; in February, there was a fire at a construction site in Tsuen Wan; in April, scaffolding caught fire in Tuen Mun; in May, a fire broke out at a construction site in Sai Wan; in July, the scaffolding at the King Sing Building in Wan Chai ignited; in September, a fire occurred at the Fung Wah Estate in Chai Wan; and in October, there were three scaffolding fire incidents: one at the Huamao Building in Central, one at a construction site in Kai Tak, and one at the West Yuen Dormitory of the University of Hong Kong, among others.

A netizen named Chen Tiantian commented on the BBC Chinese Facebook page, noting that on October 18, the scaffolding used for exterior wall repairs at the Huamao Building in Central also caught fire, resulting in a major fire classified as a level three incident. "If government departments had conducted a thorough inspection of all scaffolding across Hong Kong at that time, this tragedy today, one month later, could have been avoided! Shouldn't someone in the government be held accountable?"
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