Hong Kong fire: 161 casualties

The number of victims of the powerful fire in Hong Kong on November 26 increased to 161 after remains were identified through DNA testing, Police Commissioner Joe Chow said. He added that the discovery of additional fatalities was not ruled out. The fire, which began in a small residential area, spread across several floors, collapsed several buildings, and prompted widespread public involvement in rescue efforts. During rescue operations, city services cleared debris, and rescuers worked under intense heat.

Commissioner Chow emphasized that DNA identification enabled confirmation of the fate of previously undocumented victims, increasing the official death toll. At the peak of the tragedy, 155 people had died, and at the time of publishing the data, 161 deaths were reported.

The devastating situation drew international attention, and Hong Kong authorities began analyzing the causes of the fire and assessing measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Context

At the time the report was issued, the death toll was 155, and authorities warned of the possibility of further discoveries.