A massive fire in Hong Kong has killed 94 people and nearly 300 people are still missing as of this morning. Thousands of people have been displaced and Hong Kong’s insurers are facing a flood of claims for the worst-ever fire in the city. The tragedy could test the city’s policies.
China Insurance, which has insured the site, is expected to pay out HK$2 billion ($260 million) in damages, the South China Morning Post reported on Thursday. Under Hong Kong’s policy, it pays HK$20 million for each death or property damage and other related losses, the newspaper said.
The insurer’s shares have fallen since the fire. The Hong Kong Insurance Authority has set up a special team to handle inquiries and insurance claims. Insurance companies are urging victims to contact their insurance companies immediately to avoid losing their claims.
The cause of the massive fire is still under investigation, but experts are discussing the cause of the fire at Wang Fuk Court and the extent of the damage. They point to scaffolding and pipes being installed around the building to help with the renovations. Placing flammable materials around the building is an invitation to disaster, said Professor Kwan Yew, an engineering professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia and an expert in fire safety engineering.
The bamboo scaffolding can be dangerous, and the construction materials on top can increase the risk of fire, said Charles Jenning, an associate professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and an expert in fire safety in high-rise buildings.
He said that the fire situation is made worse by the fact that high-rise buildings are so tall and close together. He said that no fire department has enough equipment to fight a fire on the outside of a high-rise building.
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