Hong Kong Fire Survivors Return to Damaged Homes

Former residents of a Hong Kong apartment complex devastated by the city's deadliest fire in decades returned to their scorched homes on Monday for the first time since the November blaze, searching for any surviving personal belongings amid the ruins.

The fire tore through seven of the eight 31-story towers at Wang Fuk Court in the northern Tai Po district, claiming 168 lives and displacing thousands. It took firefighters nearly two days to extinguish the flames, which spread rapidly and left many structures blackened and unstable. Over 920 apartments suffered damage, with some interiors collapsed, walls charred and floors littered with debris. Authorities designated heavily affected areas as danger zones and reinforced compromised sections to allow supervised access.

Starting this week, the approximately 6,000 displaced residents can visit their flats in three-hour slots until early May, escorted by officials and assisted by around 1,000 staff, including firefighters. Visitors must wear face masks, helmets and gloves for safety. Up to four people may enter each unit, though severely damaged ones are limited to one. On Monday, about 270 residents arrived via government shuttle...