Reverend Jenny Lam Yat-kwan of ELCHK Diamond Lutheran Church lost three family members in the devastating Tai Po fire. She shares her family's journey through grief to offer hope to others facing loss. Despite the immense pain, she expresses gratitude to rescuers for aiding closure.
For 17 years as a pastor, Reverend Jenny Lam Yat-kwan has witnessed life and death cycles and supported those in despair. However, the devastating Tai Po fire in Hong Kong claimed three of her family members, requiring her to draw extraordinary courage and strength from God.
Lam, pastor of ELCHK Diamond Lutheran Church, shared with the Post on Sunday night that the three family members were confirmed dead, with their bodies recovered from one of the buildings in Wang Fuk Court. The tragedy plunged her large family into profound disbelief and sorrow.
Each body necessitated next-of-kin identification and DNA testing, forcing one relative to endure three harrowing rounds, including a mistaken identification. “Without questioning why the fire happened, all I prayed for was to find missing family members. And they were found,” Lam said. “I want to thank the Disaster Victim Identification Unit and firefighters for allowing us to say goodbye.”
Lam noted that divine grace arrived through three young “angels” who assisted the devastated family in their quest for closure. These helpers provided vital support during the traumatic processes at Fu Shan mortuary and beyond.
The fire struck the Tai Po area, affecting residents of Wang Fuk Court. Lam's account highlights the role of community aid in crises, offering inspiration amid grief.