• Fire killed at least 128 in Hong Kong’s worst blaze in nearly 80 years

Arab News

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman offered their condolences on Friday to China over the victims of a massive fire that killed at least 128 in Hong Kong’s worst blaze in nearly 80 years.

In a cable to China’s President Xi Jinping, King Salman extended his sincere condolences and sympathy to families of the deceased and wishes “for the safe return of the missing and a speedy recovery for the injured.”

The crown prince sent a similar cable to President Xi, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

As of Friday, rescuers have recovered 128 bodies from the ill-fated Wang Fuk Court complex, located in the district of Tai Po, near the border with mainland China. Officials warned that the toll that is likely to rise further with 200 others still unaccounted for. The complex is home to more than 4600 people.

Earlier reports said the fire started on the afternoon of November 26, rapidly engulfing seven of the eight 32-story blocks at the complex, which were wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh and layered with foam insulation for the renovations.

Authorities have arrested 11 people in connection with the tragedy.