Nearly five months after a deadly fire tore through a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong, residents on Monday were allowed to enter their damaged homes for the first time. The November blaze killed 168 people and displaced more than 4,000 residents. Seven buildings were severely damaged.
Authorities are giving residents a three-hour window to return to their charred apartments. On the first day, they used the visit to retrieve valuables, family photos and other personal mementos.
One resident collecting a computer and other items said his own unit had escaped major damage, but a neighbor’s home was reduced to ashes and debris. He added that soaring housing costs mean he cannot afford to buy a new place.
The government has set up an independent committee to investigate the cause of the fire. Extensive damage has been linked to substandard protective nets during renovation work, poor fire-safety measures and inadequate government oversight.