Tai Po fire death toll climbs to 161

The death toll from last month's fifth-alarm fire at Wang Court in Tai Po has risen to 161 after DNA tests confirmed that previously discovered remains belonged to two victims, and the identities of six people have been confirmed, the police said on Saturday.

Police Commissioner Joe Chow Yat-ming said after inspecting a passing-out parade on Saturday that one previously discovered body in the Tai Po blaze belonged to a couple after a DNA test on another individual was performed.

He said it's possible that the number of fatalities may rise further as DNA tests are still ongoing, adding that the identities of all six missing individuals, including five killed in the fire and one who died in 2023, have been confirmed.

The inferno, which ravaged Wang Fuk Court on Nov 26, lasted more than 43 hours and damaged seven of the eight blocks at the residential complex.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com