Hong Kong authorities say the death toll from a devastating high-rise fire has climbed to 146, with officials warning the number may rise as recovery operations continue.
Police confirmed the updated figure on Sunday, noting that dozens of residents remain unaccounted for. Search teams are still combing through multiple damaged towers, where the fire tore through apartments, stairwells, corridors, and rooftops.
Officials described the timeline for full search and recovery as three to four weeks, even under what they called “optimistic” conditions. The scale of the damage has made the operation slow and hazardous.
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The blaze broke out across several buildings in a densely populated apartment complex, quickly becoming one of the deadliest residential fires in the city’s history. Investigators are reviewing whether ongoing renovation work, building materials, or fire-safety lapses contributed to the rapid spread.
City residents have begun gathering at makeshift memorials across Hong Kong to honour the victims, while officials brace for a lengthy recovery effort.
