Hong Kong: At least two Indonesian nationals have been confirmed dead and two others injured in the devastating Hong Kong residential fire, the Indonesian consulate announced on Thursday. All four victims were overseas domestic workers part of a community legally required to reside with their employers and typically tasked with cooking, cleaning, childcare, and elderly care six days a week.
Hong Kong, with a population of 7.5 million, is home to one of the world’s highest concentrations of migrant domestic workers. More than 368,000 were employed in the city last year, the vast majority of them women from Indonesia and the Philippines. They form an essential pillar of Hong Kong’s household support system, enabling thousands of families to balance work and caregiving responsibilities.
The Philippine consulate said it had not yet confirmed whether any Filipino nationals were among the casualties or injured. However, Vice Consul Jose Angelo Manuel told CNN that there was “unverified information that some Filipino domestic workers may be trapped inside the buildings.” He cautioned that the destruction was so widespread that it may take considerable time to determine the full extent of the damage and the identities of all victims.
As the scale of the tragedy became clear, condolences began streaming in from around the world. The US Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau expressed its deep sorrow, writing that its “thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by this devastating fire.”
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the blaze as “truly devastating and deeply distressing,” offering “heartfelt condolences” to grieving families and the people of Hong Kong.
Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed his sympathies and directed central government representatives and the Hong Kong Liaison Office to mobilize “all-out efforts” to assist with rescue and relief operations.
Japan’s Consulate-General declared that “Japan stands in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong during this difficult time,” while Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te urged collective prayer, saying, “At this moment, let us pray for Hong Kong together.”
Among those waiting in painful uncertainty is Mr. Yuen, who has not heard from his elderly parents since the fire erupted. Yuen and his parents, both in their 70s, lived in separate apartments on the 11th floor of Block 5 at Wang Fuk Court.
He told reporters that he rushed home from work after hearing of the fire but found himself unable to enter the building. Since then, all attempts to contact his parents have failed. Like many others, he now waits inside a crowded temporary shelter in Tai Po, surrounded mostly by elderly survivors, displaced residents, and worried family members.
Volunteers circulated with bottled drinks, fast food, and coffee, but the atmosphere remained heavy with grief and fear. Many residents understand they may face a prolonged wait before officials can confirm the condition of those still missing.
The blaze tore through a densely populated neighborhood of Tai Po, a district located roughly 11 miles north of central Hong Kong and close to the mainland Chinese border. Once a modest market town, Tai Po underwent rapid development in the 1970s, transforming into a sprawling residential hub with modern highways, shopping centers, and large housing estates that now serve over 300,000 residents.
Its surroundings remain rich with cultural and natural attractions: traditional walled villages, mountain hiking trails, and the famed “wishing tree” shrine visited during Lunar New Year festivities.
Tai Po’s community also shares a strong sporting spirit. Its home soccer team, Tai Po Football Club current champions of Hong Kong’s Premier League posted a message of solidarity, thanking firefighters for their “tireless efforts” and expressing support for residents affected by the disaster.
The players learned of the tragedy while in Australia preparing for a Champions League match against Macarthur FC. The club announced it would wear black armbands for the game, which would open with a minute of silence in honor of the victims.