Hong Kong, Nov 28 (V7N) — The death toll from a massive fire in the Wang Fuk Court high-rise apartment building in Tai Po district, Hong Kong, has risen to 128, authorities confirmed on Thursday. More than 200 residents are still missing, and at least 79 people have been injured, including 12 fire service personnel.

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, Chris Tang, stated that the search for survivors trapped inside the building has officially ended. Among the injured firefighters, one remains in critical condition.

The fire broke out at noon local time on Wednesday. Over 1,200 fire service personnel were deployed to battle the blaze. In the aftermath, three individuals have been arrested for dereliction of duty.

This tragedy has been described as the worst fire in Hong Kong’s six-decade history, with the building being largely destroyed and hundreds of residents unaccounted for. Rescue and recovery efforts have now shifted to investigating the cause of the fire and assisting the victims’ families.

Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant regarding fire safety in high-rise buildings and have promised a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to this devastating incident.

END/SMA/AJ