Hong Kong: A wave of sorrow, shock, and heartfelt support has swept across mainland China following the catastrophic fire in Hong Kong, which has now become the deadliest blaze to strike the region in a decade. While large-scale fires are sadly not unfamiliar in mainland cities, Hong Kong’s reputation for stringent public safety standards has made this tragedy especially unsettling for people across the country.
Public reaction has been immediate and widespread, with millions closely tracking updates from the semi-autonomous city. Chinese President Xi Jinping quickly expressed deep concern, calling for “all-out efforts” to reduce casualties and ensure robust rescue operations. Beijing also announced a relief grant of 2 million yuan through the Red Cross to aid emergency response and support affected families.
China’s influential tech firms and high-profile entrepreneurs have joined the wave of solidarity by contributing substantial donations to relief initiatives. Meanwhile, residents of Shenzhen the mainland city closest to Hong Kong mobilized rapidly, coordinating food, essentials, and other supplies for evacuees sheltered nearby, according to state media reports.
Young people, too, have been vocal in their grief. Gao Yuxin, an 18-year-old student from Fuzhou, expressed to CNN how the news left her deeply saddened. Although she felt powerless from afar, she said some of her friends in Hong Kong had begun volunteering on the ground to support survivors and displaced families.
Across social media, the tragedy dominated conversations. Hashtags related to the fire drew more than a billion views on Weibo, the X-like microblogging site. Many users questioned the continued use of bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong construction an issue that has become central to the investigation. Comparisons resurfaced with a 2010 Shanghai blaze, which killed 58 people and was linked to welding sparks igniting bamboo and other flammable materials. Mainland authorities banned bamboo scaffolding in municipal and residential projects in 2022, but Hong Kong did not implement a similar prohibition. Officials have confirmed that the bamboo structures surrounding the estate are now a major focus of the criminal probe.
Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department reported a glimmer of hope amid the devastation when firefighters rescued an elderly man trapped inside one of the burning buildings early Thursday morning. Wong Ka Wing, the department’s deputy director, shared that teams located the man on the 31st floor, successfully pulling him out from a smoke-filled vestibule and transferring him to a hospital.
Wong acknowledged that rescue crews continue to endure extreme conditions persistent high temperatures, collapsed scaffolding, and unstable structures forcing them to move through the building floor by floor. “It is very difficult for us,” he said, emphasizing that firefighters would not abandon any opportunity to save a life.
In response to mounting public concern, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee ordered immediate inspections across all major housing estates currently undergoing large-scale renovation works. His announcement, made via Facebook, stressed the need to evaluate the safety of scaffolding and building materials to prevent similar disasters.
The exact number of estates subject to inspections remains unclear, but in a densely populated metropolis of 7.5 million home to one of the world’s largest clusters of high-rises the undertaking will be vast. The move aims to restore public confidence and ensure that safety lapses, especially concerning construction materials and practices, are addressed with urgency and transparency.
The tragedy has not only exposed vulnerabilities in Hong Kong’s building and renovation oversight but has also united people across mainland China in grief, compassion, and a powerful call for accountability and reform.