More than four months after a devastating fire struck a residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, former residents are preparing to briefly return to their homes to recover personal belongings, Reuters reported.
The blaze, which occurred in late November, destroyed multiple high-rise towers, killed 168 people and displaced over 4,000 residents. Many have not had the opportunity to visit their damaged apartments until now, but will soon be granted access. Between April 20 and May 4, all residents will be given a three-hour window to recover essential items such as cash, family photographs and other belongings that can be gathered within the limited timeframe.
With no elevators available in the towers, returning to upper floors presents a serious challenge. For many elderly residents, the visit is not only psychologically difficult but also physically demanding due to factors such as knee pain, limited strength and shortness of breath.
To address this issue, a local NGO has offered robotic exoskeletons to assist with mobility. Those who wish to use the devices must first complete training and pass a test, with a reported pass rate of 70%.
Earlier this month, BYD, the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer, reported a fire in a parking garage used for «test and scrapped vehicles.»
