The death toll from a fire that engulfed an apartment complex in Hong Kong this week has risen to 146, police announced on Sunday, November 30.
Disaster Victim Identification Unit officials found more bodies as they expanded their search to three more blocks of the Wang Fuk Court building complex, which suffered the deadliest residential building fire in the world since 1980.
"As of 4:00 p.m. [local time], the latest death toll is 146. We cannot rule out the possibility of more casualties," the head of this unit, Tsang Shuk-yin, told a press conference.
Over 1,000 people from across the Chinese city gathered on Sunday at the apartment complex in the Tai Po district, in northern Hong Kong, to pay their respects to the victims of the fire.
Authorities have formed a joint investigation team to determine the cause of the fire.
Hong Kong's anti-corruption unit has arrested 11 people in connection with the fire, three of whom have also been arrested by police for manslaughter.
The Indonesian consulate in Hong Kong said at least seven Indonesian citizens have died in the fire.
A Filipino overseas worker also died in the fire, the Manila Consulate said on Saturday.
Hong Kong's Buildings Department has ordered the temporary suspension of work on 30 private construction projects across the city./REL
