FIREFIGHTERS had rescued 55 people in the major fire that broke out across seven buildings at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said at a press briefing Thursday.

He said the fire had been fully brought under control. He added that cash grants will be given to households affected by the fire in the residential complex Thursday evening. The government will provide more than 1,800 temporary accommodation spaces for affected residents.

Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department (FSD) received reports of fire at 2:51 p.m. Wednesday. The blaze broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, leaving 55 people dead and 76 injured by Thursday afternoon.

According to the FSD, as of early Thursday, over 200 fire engines and about 100 ambulances had been deployed, with more than 1,200 firefighters engaged in the operation.

Police officers have mobilized over 1,000 personnel for the evacuation and rescue operations.

To help people in need, the government has opened a number of temporary shelters.

In Tung Cheong Street Sports Center, a temporary shelter, mattresses were laid out neatly on the floor. Personnel from the civil aid service and the care teams were seen weaving through the area, quietly asking the affected about their needs, offering hot water to the elderly and distributing food.

All sectors across the city have been keeping a close eye on the incident, offering assistance to those impacted.

Jacky Chu, president of the Lions Club of Hong Kong Alba, was amazed by the scale of the public contributions. “I never imagined so many supplies would be donated,” he said.

Though not a resident in the neighborhood, Chu rushed to the site upon hearing the news and has been busy all the way from 9 p.m. Wednesday to the early hours of Thursday.

Heather Yin, corporate communications manager of the Hong Kong Red Cross, said that the organization has opened a psychological support hotline for those affected and has been working with local communities to mobilize volunteers.

Locals as well as visitors from the Chinese mainland and overseas swarmed blood donation centers across Hong Kong. A center in Causeway Bay said it had been booked out for the next three days by avid donors answering a citywide call to help the people injured in the fire. Information about where and how to donate blood quickly circulated on social media platforms.

Such assistance has helped alleviate the anxiety of those affected and strengthened their confidence.

“I saw my building engulfed by flames on the way home from work. My kid was at school, and my mother was at home alone,” said a resident surnamed Chan. She had been trying anxiously to reach her family while she was being relocated to the shelter and was finally relieved to be reunited with her family.

“The social worker came to check on my kid. It’s reassuring to be with my family and get support from others. I believe that we can get through this,” she said.

(Xinhua)