Letters | Tai Po fire tragedy shows importance of disaster risk reduction

The catastrophic Tai Po fire underlines the importance of two overlooked insights from disaster studies: disaster risk reduction is the most cost‑effective strategy, and the aftermath of disasters must not be neglected.

Shifting focus from post‑disaster relief to disaster risk reduction saves lives, reduces property loss and minimises reliance on relief.

Disaster risk is shaped by hazard, exposure and vulnerability/capacity. Effective policies must address all three. For sudden‑onset disasters like fires, risk reduction is especially vital given the limited response time. Beyond monitoring hazard-related factors like wind and humidity, risk assessments should include the fire exposure of existing buildings, including those under repair, and those planned for construction.

While capacity building measures like actionable early warning systems reduces vulnerability, vulnerable groups including the elderly, disabled and ethnic minorities require tailored support. Hong Kong’s two‑tier fire danger warning system (yellow and red) largely recommends outdoor precautionary actions. It should be enhanced to include building precautionary actions such as checking escape routes, smoke doors, firefighting equipment and alarms, alongside public education.

Bottom-up community education should complement top‑down policies. Our centre’s previous surveys reveal low disaster awareness in Hong Kong: most residents did not see the city as disaster‑prone nor fires as major disasters, despite over 10,000 fires annually causing more than 600 casualties. It is crucial to reverse such public risk perception, run regular fire drills, familiarise residents with escape routes and firefighting equipment, and provide accessible information for vulnerable groups, including foreign domestic workers.