Hong Kong has experienced a severe fire in nearly 20 years, resulting in hundreds of casualties. The fire is still spreading, and while the central government issued disaster relief orders at midnight, Chief Executive Carrie Lam received calls from multiple parties around the area, showcasing the strength of China's unity.

Fire scene

On the afternoon of November 26, a fire broke out suddenly in the Hong Fook Yuen residential complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong. The fire was extremely fierce. Within two hours, the fire alarm level was raised twice, and it has now been upgraded to a level five fire. This is the worst fire in Hong Kong in nearly 60 years, which has drawn widespread attention. After the fire occurred, Chief Executive Carrie Lam immediately intervened and took charge of the rescue operations.

According to reports, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government quickly activated the Emergency Incident Monitoring and Support Center, mobilizing over 800 rescue personnel and more than 140 fire trucks. Drones were used to conduct reconnaissance of the entire fire site, and eight temporary shelters were opened to accommodate over 900 affected residents. However, due to high internal temperatures and thick smoke inside the building, rescue personnel have difficulty reaching higher floors, and many people are still trapped.

Thick smoke at the scene

As of the time of this report, the fire has not yet been extinguished, but 44 people have died, including one firefighter, and nearly 300 people are still missing. At the same time, the police have launched an investigation, and preliminary judgment suggests that the fire was caused by workers littering cigarette butts. However, since unusual flammable materials were found at the scene, it cannot be ruled out that the fire may be a criminal case.

Notably, on the same night, after receiving the news, the central government immediately expressed condolences to the families of the victims and ordered the special administrative region to do its best to put out the fire and minimize losses. Shortly after the central government's order, netizens captured images of a large number of Shenzhen firefighters gathering near the Liantang Port, apparently ready to support Hong Kong. These pictures spread rapidly on social media and attracted widespread attention.

However, Chief Executive Carrie Lam denied this speculation when meeting with the media. She stated that the Hong Kong Fire Services Department had assessed the situation and confirmed that the current fire-fighting resources were sufficient, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region had not requested assistance from the mainland. Nevertheless, she expressed gratitude to the central government. Additionally, Lam also specifically thanked the surrounding cities for their concern in her statement.

Shenzhen Firefighters gathered at Liantang Port

Lam revealed that after the fire occurred, she had received greetings from multiple leaders in surrounding cities, who had proactively offered help if needed, such as medical equipment, rescue tools, and manpower support. It can be confirmed that the fire-fighting forces of surrounding cities are on standby, and they will rush to Hong Kong immediately upon receiving any information.

This proactive support in times of disaster is not a spontaneous decision, but rather the result of a long-term cross-border emergency cooperation system. As early as June 2024, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao signed the "Emergency Management Cooperation Framework Agreement". In March of this year, a joint drill was successfully held, marking the first time that a "rescue expressway" was established, enabling 70 mainland firefighters to quickly pass through customs and provide support to Hong Kong in a practical test.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam (center)

The proactive support from surrounding cities is a vivid embodiment of this mechanism moving from "drills" to "practical situations," demonstrating the efficiency of China's unique emergency management system. "We are the closest relatives within the family," a phrase that Lam once used to describe the relationship between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, has been truly reflected in times of emergency.

The fire has brought not only pain but also deep reflection on urban governance. How to promote fire safety upgrades in old buildings while respecting property rights is a challenge that needs to be considered. Currently, fire rescue operations are still ongoing, and post-disaster handling and hazard inspections have been fully launched. Believing that with the support of the central government and the collaborative efforts of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong will surely overcome the disaster and rebuild its home as soon as possible.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7577239565958644264/

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