128 confirmed dead in Hong Kong high-rise fire

Incident Overview - A devastating apartment fire in Hong Kong resulted in at least 128 fatalities, marking it as China's deadliest fire in decades [1][3] - Approximately 200 people remain missing, complicating rescue efforts [3] - The fire took over 24 hours to contain and was fully extinguished the following morning [4] - The affected apartment complex housed over 4,800 residents in 2,000 apartments [4][9] Investigation and Causes - Preliminary findings suggest gross negligence by a construction company is to blame, specifically the use of unsafe, highly flammable foam panels [5][6] - The investigation identified that a tower unaffected by the fire did not use the same flammable foam panels on its windows [6] - The fire is believed to have started on a lower-level construction net and spread rapidly due to the flammable panels [6] - Officials had previously expressed concerns about the safety of bamboo scaffolding, commonly used in Hong Kong [7] - There are reports indicating potential issues with fire alarms in some parts of the buildings [8] Response and Aid - The government has established a fund with millions of dollars allocated to assist the affected residents [9] - Many residents have been relocated to temporary shelters [9] - 89 bodies are yet to be identified [9] - The President of China has expressed sympathy and emphasized the priority of finding the missing [10]