Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court fire death toll rises to 161 after DNA tests

The confirmed death toll from Hong Kong's catastrophic Wang Fuk Court fire has risen to 161, police announced Saturday, marking it as the territory's deadliest blaze in decades. The increase follows advanced forensic examination that detected DNA evidence of an additional person among the remains of a couple previously identified.

Identification Efforts and Potential for Further Rises

Hong Kong Police Commissioner Joe Chow Yat-ming stated that while all previously reported missing persons cases have been resolved, authorities are continuing DNA tests on recovered remains. "We do not rule out the possibility that other deceased people may be found and the death toll may rise," Chow said during a briefing at the Hong Kong Police College. Earlier identification efforts involved collecting DNA samples from approximately 100 households in the affected complex.

Scale of the Disaster and Response

The fire broke out in late October in the Tai Po district, engulfing seven residential blocks covered in renovation scaffolding and polystyrene foam boards. The 43-hour inferno damaged over 1,900 apartments, displacing nearly 5,000 residents. The disaster has prompted a significant government relief response, including a recently announced two-year annual rental subsidy of HK$150,000 for displaced flat owners, alongside a one-time HK$50,000 relocation payment for both owners and tenants.

A Long Recovery Ahead

The blaze represents Hong Kong's most severe residential fire tragedy in generations, exposing risks associated with large-scale building renovations. The community faces a prolonged period of recovery as authorities complete victim identification and support thousands of homeless residents. The incident has sparked broader discussions about fire safety regulations in densely populated urban areas.