Hong Kong fire death toll among Indonesian helpers rises to 9
Consulate makes announcement as government says 1,760 affected households have received HK$10,000 emergency cash handouts
The death toll among Indonesian domestic helpers in Hong Kong’s worst fire in decades has increased to nine after two more were confirmed dead, with 36 others remaining unaccounted for, according to the country’s consulate.
The announcement came as the government revealed on Monday that more than 1,700 households affected by the Wang Fuk Court inferno had received an emergency cash handout of HK$10,000 (US$1,284), while the city worked to ease mortgage burdens on impacted homeowners.
The Indonesian consulate in Hong Kong said that two more helpers from its country had been confirmed dead, bringing the total number to nine. It was unclear whether the two were part of the latest overall death toll of 151.
One Indonesian helper remained in hospital, while 94 others were confirmed safe and 36 were still unaccounted for.
The Philippine consulate said on Sunday that one of its helpers had died in the fire, while 84 others were safe and accounted for. Seven remained unaccounted for, and one person was injured.
Authorities earlier announced a series of relief funds for residents affected by last Wednesday’s devastating Tai Po blaze, which has so far claimed 146 lives. The measures include the HK$10,000 one-off emergency payment for each victim and a living allowance of HK$50,000.