A Filipino domestic worker died in the fatal Tai Po blaze that claimed at least 128 lives, the Philippine Consulate General has confirmed.
In a statement released on Saturday, the consulate confirmed that a Filipina who worked as a migrant worker was killed in the fire at Wang Fuk Court.
The consulate extended its condolences to her family, friends, and loved ones, describing what they were facing as a “trying time.”
“Far from her native home, she had made innumerable sacrifices to provide a better life for her family,” the statement read.
The consulate also confirmed on Saturday that 79 Filipino nationals were accounted for and safe, while one was injured and 12 were left for “verification.”
It said the consulate general is continuing its on-the-ground operations to check the welfare of and assist overseas Filipino workers affected by the fire tragedy.
At least seven Indonesian domestic workers have been killed in the blaze, the Indonesian consulate general in the city said on Saturday. A total of 140 Indonesian domestic workers lived at Wang Fuk Court, with 79 of their whereabouts still unverified, it added.
See also: Tai Po fire: What we know about Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades
Migrant labour NGOs in Hong Kong have been working around the clock to locate domestic workers still unaccounted for after the fatal Tai Po fire and to support survivors.
Fire first broke out at Wang Cheong House on Wednesday afternoon and quickly spread to six other blocks in the residential estate. Only the eighth building, Wang Chi House, did not catch fire.
The blocks, which was encased in nets and scaffolding had been undergoing a large-scale renovation project for over a year. A police investigation found that foam boards used as part of the protective materials were highly flammable.
Three men linked to the construction company have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and corruption. Eight others have been arrested on suspicion of corruption.
The death toll remained at 128 after the Police Disaster Victims Identification Unit swept two blocks that were deemed less severely affected by the blaze on Saturday but found no bodies.
See also: Explainer: How Hong Kong’s history of deadly fires shaped housing policy and triggered reform
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Hongkongers gathered near Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on Saturday to mourn the victims. Many laid flowers and observed a moment of silence at designated areas near the housing estate.
