Hong Kong: As smoke continued to drift from the charred remains of Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court and rescue teams searched for survivors, a parallel mission unfolded at the disaster site volunteers rushing to save pets trapped inside the burning buildings.
Animal welfare groups quickly mobilized, arriving with oxygen-equipped pet carriers and animal ambulances to pull frightened animals from the devastated complex. Social media clips captured dramatic scenes of cats, dogs, and even a tortoise being brought to safety amid the chaos.
“We’ve managed to rescue about a dozen cats and seven or eight dogs so far—plus a few tortoises,” said Anson Cheng, a volunteer with Hong Kong Guardians, speaking to Reuters on Thursday. “Since yesterday, around 20 volunteers have been here helping to rescue both animals and people. We even have vets and veterinary nurses on-site supporting the effort.”
Some volunteers faced delays as they urged police to let them cross security cordons that had been set up to keep the public away from the hazardous area, Reuters reported, with flames still active in parts of the residential complex.
Through smoke, danger, and exhaustion, the volunteers continued their mission determined that even the smallest survivors would not be forgotten.