Asia

Thick smoke and flames rise as a major fire engulfs several apartment blocks in Hong Kong

Hong Kong leader orders independent probe into fire

An independent committee is to be established to investigate the cause of Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades, which claimed 156 lives, the city's leader has said.

Asia • 02 Dec

Suspects arrested as Hong Kong fire death toll hits 151

Authorities in Hong Kong have said they made a total 13 arrests over the city's deadliest fire in decades after the blaze killed 151 people last week, a toll that could further rise.

World • 01 Dec

Militaries assist Asia flood victims as toll nears 1,000

Sri Lanka and Indonesia deployed military personnel to help victims of devastating flooding that has killed nearly 1,000 people across four countries in Asia in recent days.

World • 01 Dec

People pictured in the foreground with skyscrapers in the background

Death toll after Hong Kong fire rises to 146

The death toll in a fire that tore through a Hong Kong residential estate this week has risen to 146, police said.

Asia • 30 Nov

Hong Kong begins mourning period as 128 killed in fire

Three days of official mourning began in Hong Kong with a moment of silence for the 128 people killed in one of the city's deadliest fires.

Asia • 29 Nov

Hong Kong fire kills 94 as police blame construction firm

Hong Kong authorities have said the death toll from the city's worst fire in decades had risen to at least 83, with the blaze almost entirely extinguished and rescuers scouring torched high-rise buildings for scores of people still listed as missing.

Asia • 27 Nov

Hong Kong fire puts spotlight on bamboo scaffolding risk

Hong Kong's deadliest fire in three decades has highlighted its risky use of flammable bamboo scaffolding and mesh for building work in a tradition dating back centuries to China.

Asia • 27 Nov

Fire engulfs high-rise residential buildings at the Wang Fuk Court complex

Hong Kong buildings blaze kills 44, nearly 300 missing

At least 44 people have been killed and 279 others are missing after Hong Kong's deadliest fire in three decades ripped through high-rise residential towers sheathed in flammable bamboo scaffolding, authorities said.

Asia • 26 Nov

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands

China's Xi pushes issue of Taiwan in call with Trump

Chinese leader Xi Jinping pressed the ever-sensitive issue of Taiwan in a phone call with US President Donald Trump, as he stressed the need to build on a fragile trade truce between the two superpowers.

Asia • 25 Nov

Residential buildings damaged by fire at Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong

Hong Kong fire toll rises to 128 as 200 remain missing

The death toll from Hong Kong's worst fire in nearly 80 years has risen to 128 and about 200 people remain missing from the high-rise residential complex that was engulfed by the blaze, the city's security chief said today.