Thousands of Hongkongers braved heavy rains to observe Ching Ming Festival by sweeping tombs, with Wang Fuk Court survivors returning to the fire site to mourn victims. The outing occurred under thundery showers, prompting the Observatory to issue an amber rainstorm warning at 2.05pm. The blaze at the Tai Po estate on November 26 killed 168 people and displaced 5,000 others.
Hong Kong marked Ching Ming Festival on April 5, with thousands of residents braving heavy rains to sweep tombs and honour the dead.
Skies darkened as a band of thundery showers approached, leading the Hong Kong Observatory to issue an amber rainstorm warning at 2.05pm.
For survivors of the Wang Fuk Court blaze in Tai Po, the day brought fresh pain. Flames engulfed seven of the estate's eight towers during a major renovation on November 26, killing 168 people and displacing 5,000 others.
Some residents returned to the charred buildings to mourn the victims. A couple who identified themselves as Mr Yau, 78, and Mrs Yau, 70, sat silently on a bench beside the Tai Po housing estate, gazing at the ruins.
As reported by the South China Morning Post, many Chinese families cherish the spring tradition of visiting ancestors' graves, but for Wang Fuk Court survivors, it marked yet another painful step.
