Hong Kong fire victims scour scorched homes for keepsakes

Victims of Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades began government-supervised visits to their ravaged former homes on Monday for the first time since the November blaze, looking to retrieve personal items that might have survived.



The flames that engulfed seven residential towers, each of 31 floors in the northern district of Tai Po, killing 168 people, took nearly two days to douse, and eclipsed London's Grenfell Tower inferno of 2017.



"I want to get back my computer most, as some photographs of my son are stored inside," said one former resident, a 50-year-old surnamed Chung, adding that he had readied some canvas bags and tools for the effort.



"(I am) not sure if I will have enough time, once I get upstairs."



Until May 4, former residents of the complex, Wang Fuk Court can spend three hours in their flats on each visit, while wearing facemasks, helmets and gloves for protection.



Firemen are among the 1,000 staff tasked to assist the estimated 6,000 visitors, who will be escorted by officials to ensure items are kept safe.