The community in Hong Kong was consumed by a frantic search for their loved ones following a devastating blaze at the Wong Fuk Court Apartments in Tai Po District. The massive inferno, which erupted on Wednesday, November 26, was only fully brought under control and extinguished on Friday morning, November 28, leaving behind a trail of destruction and profound uncertainty.
Among those tirelessly struggling to find their family members is Yayuk, an Indonesian woman in her 40s. Speaking to AFP, Yayuk expressed her desperate plight, recounting her inability to locate her older sister, Sri-Wahyuni.
Sri-Wahyuni had been working and residing with a family within the expansive 2,000-unit apartment complex, now ravaged by the Hong Kong fire. The search has taken a heavy toll on Yayuk, who revealed, “I couldn’t sleep all night. This morning I went to the consulate to ask if her whereabouts had been checked at the hospital.”
The Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Hong Kong has confirmed the tragic deaths of two Indonesian citizens in the inferno. Both victims were domestic migrant workers, originating from East Java and West Java, highlighting the vulnerability of this community in the face of such disasters.
Additionally, two other Indonesian nationals sustained injuries in the Tai Po apartment fire. While one individual has since been discharged from the hospital and returned to their employer, another remains under medical care, suffering from shock. The KJRI also reported that 119 Indonesian citizens lived across the eight blocks of the Wong Fuk Court complex and is actively working to expedite the repatriation of the deceased back to Indonesia.
The tragic incident has claimed a total of 94 lives, with a stark 200 people still reported missing, underscoring the immense scale of the catastrophe. As the city grapples with the aftermath, AFP, citing Hong Kong media, reported that distraught family members of the deceased have begun visiting the mortuary in the Shatin district for the difficult task of identifying bodies.
Firefighter Dies in Tragic Blaze
Among the many heroes and victims of the devastating Tai Po apartment fire, a 37-year-old firefighter was tragically killed. He was found with severe facial burns approximately half an hour after losing contact with his colleagues during the arduous efforts to control the blaze.
In a poignant tribute that resonated across social media, a woman identified as his partner shared a black-and-white photograph, lamenting the loss of her “superhero.” Her heartfelt message read: “My superhero has completed his mission and returned to Krypton. I am proud of you.” This emotional testament highlighted the profound personal cost of the disaster.
Summary
A devastating fire at Hong Kong’s Wong Fuk Court Apartments, which erupted on November 26 and was extinguished on November 28, resulted in 94 confirmed deaths and 200 people reported missing. Among those affected, an Indonesian woman named Yayuk is desperately searching for her sister, Sri-Wahyuni, who resided and worked in the complex. The Indonesian Consulate General confirmed two Indonesian domestic migrant workers died and two others were injured, with one remaining hospitalized.
The tragedy also claimed the life of a 37-year-old firefighter, who was found with severe burns after losing contact during efforts to control the blaze. His partner shared a poignant online tribute, referring to him as her “superhero.” Family members of the deceased have begun the difficult process of identifying bodies at the Shatin mortuary.