Anger Simmers Over Deadly HK Blaze as Beijing Warns Against "Disruption"

Anger over a deadly blaze at a Hong Kong high-rise apartment complex simmered as Beijing warned against attempts to use the disaster to disrupt the city, while people across the financial hub continued to mourn the more than 128 victims, Jessie Pang and James Pomfret reported for Reuters.

Worsening the nightmare for survivors, China deleted posts condemning the incompetence of China-led Hong Kong authorities and demanding justice for the confirmed 128 fatalities. (Photo: Chen Duo Xinhua) 

Police have detained one person who was part of a group that launched a petition demanding government accountability, an independent probe into possible corruption, proper resettlement for residents, and a review of construction oversight, two sources familiar with the matter said.

Lisa Visentin and Daniel Ceng reported for the Sydney Morning Herald that the fire alarms did not go off and firemen took two days to control the fire, pushing survivors to criticize authorities for allowing faulty renovation work.

Worsening the nightmare for survivors, China deleted posts condemning the incompetence of China-led Hong Kong authorities and demanding justice for the confirmed 128 fatalities.

The death toll stands at 128, but this figure has not been updated since Friday, and 44 of the dead have yet to be identified. A further 150 people remain unaccounted for.

At least one more body was recovered from the towers on Sunday morning, the South China Morning Post reported.

The death toll includes at least seven Indonesian workers and one Filipino, who were among the 119 Indonesians and 82 Filipinos believed to have lived and worked in the towers.