Elderly Hong Kong Couple Reflects on Devastating Fire That Destroyed Their Home

A married couple in their seventies recounted the traumatic ordeal of losing their apartment in a deadly fire in Hong Kong. The couple, surnamed Leung, were enjoying afternoon tea at a nearby restaurant when their daughter alerted them to the fire engulfing their residential complex.

"It all happened within just an hour or two. I stood there watching as one block after another went up in flames — my legs felt so weak I could hardly stand," Mrs. Leung said tearfully. "When I saw it, I felt completely helpless. I still don’t understand how the fire could spread so fiercely, devouring one building after another."

The couple had lived in Block E of Wang Fuk Court for approximately 40 years, having purchased their 500-square-foot apartment secondhand for over HK$1 million. They were also concerned about the significant repair costs the building required—around HK$160,000—of which they had been able to pay HK$140,000, fearing they may never recover these funds.

Returning to the site alongside their daughter Bonnie, the family laid flowers at a memorial close to the burnt towers, reflecting on decades of memories lost. Mrs. Leung expressed deep sorrow over the destruction: "Everything I built over decades has vanished. I was supposed to live out my later years peacefully here, enjoying walks along the waterfront park with my husband. Those moments are now only memories."

Images shared by their daughter showed a cherished living room with a tranquil atmosphere and a balcony view overlooking flowers they had planted. The traumatic scenes and sounds of the fire still linger for Mrs. Leung weeks after the incident.

"It was terrifying," she recalled. "The bamboo scaffolding cracked, and there were sounds like exploding windows — the flames were completely out of control."

The fire displaced over 4,000 residents from Wang Fuk Court, marking one of the deadliest blazes in Hong Kong in recent decades, with a death toll of at least 159 people. Many survivors are currently housed in temporary accommodations provided by the government.

Having visited the temporary housing, the Leungs decided to move in with their eldest daughter instead, citing the difficulties elderly residents face with the distance and environment of the temporary facilities.

Mrs. Leung urged the government to prioritize safety to prevent similar tragedies in the future, stating, "The government must pay attention so disasters like this never happen again, leaving people like us with no one to turn to. I just hope that what happened to us can help those who are now going through building renovation issues — so no one else has to suffer the same pain."