Out of 243 animals trapped in the buildings of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po that were engulfed in a massive fire, 92 have been recovered, according to an NGO’s tally.
The 92 recovered animals included those who survived and those who lost their lives in the blaze, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) told HKFP on Friday. The SPCA was not able to provide a breakdown of how many were alive.
Residents at Wang Fuk Court have scrambled to find their loved ones since Wednesday, when the inferno broke out shortly before 3 pm. Some – like Rosanna, a woman in her 60s – have also been desperately looking for their pets.
HKFP later learned that Rosanna’s grey poodle, Bear Bear, was rescued alive on Thursday.
On Friday morning, an HKFP journalist also saw a pair reunited with their dog outside Wang Fuk Court – one of the rare moments of joy at the scene of a devastating tragedy.
Images circulating online show a variety of pets – including dogs, cats, tortoises, and rabbits – being rescued alive from Wang Fuk Court, while many were found dead when their bodies were recovered.
The SPCA said its team would remain on-site in Tai Po to “help triage, treat, and match the remaining rescued animals” alongside other groups and volunteers.
The inferno at Wang Fuk Court has killed at least 128 people, with about 200 more still unaccounted for, according to authorities on Friday afternoon.
Security chief Chris Tang told reporters on Friday that more bodies could be discovered as police officers entered the buildings to investigate.
Authorities believe that the fire started at the netting covering the lower floors of one building at Wang Fuk Court before igniting the foam boards installed outside the windows during year-long repair work.
The blaze spread quickly and engulfed seven of the eight residential blocks.
According to the Fire Services Department, firefighters largely put out the fire at around 10am on Friday – about 43 hours after it started.
At least three men have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. The trio are two directors and an engineering consultant at Prestige Construction & Engineering Co Limited, a firm responsible for renovation works at Wang Fuk Court.
