The international community has expressed deep condolences and offered to help over the deadly blaze in a residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district.

Members of the Mission For Migrant Workers (MFMW), Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, the Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body and the International Migrants Alliance thronged the Kwong Fuk Estate Podium off the fire site to provide medical aid, counseling and assistance to find temporary shelter to affected migrant workers.

They also set hotline numbers that migrant workers can call for help. People who want to offer donations and other forms of support can also call the hotline.

LIVE UPDATES: Tai Po fire

The devastating fire that engulfed seven out of eight apartment blocks at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong's Tai Po district has so far claimed 94 people's lives. Completed in 1983, the apartment complex consists of eight blocks for 1,984 households and over 4,000 residents.

MFMW and Bethune House have estimated that with around 2,000 households, at least 200 migrant domestic workers might have been affected by the fire, which originated on Wednesday afternoon.

The two largest non-Chinese ethnic groups in Hong Kong were Filipino and Indonesian, representing 2.7 percent and 1.9 percent of the population, respectively, according to a 2021 population census by the Hong Kong’s Census and Statistics Department.

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The Consulate General of the Philippines in Hong Kong confirmed on Friday that one Filipino was injured, while another one is missing since the fire incident. Total 24 Filipinos are safe. The consulate said it continues on-the ground operations to help Filipinos affected by the fire.

The Consulate General of Indonesia in Hong Kong also said it is coordinating closely with the local authorities regarding documents and to provide support to Indonesians, including migrant workers, affected by the fire.

A hotline and panic button have also been set up to assist the affected Indonesian nationals, the consulate general said on Thursday.

Leaders of various countries also expressed their condolences over the incident and sympathies to the victims and their families.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered his condolences to Chinese President Xi Jinping over the tragedy, the Kremlin said in a news release.

“My heart goes out to the people who have lost their lives and the people who are searching and concerned about loved ones,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said while answering questions at a news conference on Thursday.

Harvey Rouse, head of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao SARs, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and his admiration and support to Hong Kong’s firefighters, paramedics, and doctors.  

Governments of over 30 countries, including their consulate generals in Hong Kong, also extended their condolences and sympathies to the victims and their families while expressing their wishes for a speedy recovery of those injured and for Hong Kong to overcome the difficult time.

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International organizations in Hong Kong have joined to offer support to those in need.

The International Social Service Hong Kong Branch, a non-profit organization headquartered in Geneva, said on Thursday that it is providing cross-border emergency support, resources consolidation, counseling and hotel accommodation for individuals and families affected who happened to be on the Chinese mainland.

It has also set up a relief fund to affected households and sending ethnic minority outreach teams to address the needs of non-Chinese residents affected by the fire.

Tak Yeon-kyun, chairman of the Korean Resident Association Hong Kong, told Yonhap news agency on Thursday that the association plans to launch a fundraising campaign for South Korean residents in the city to support relief efforts.

“As residents living in Hong Kong, we want to help provide relief supplies,” said Tak, who has been living in Hong Kong for over 30 years.

Contact the writers at kelly@chinadailyapac.com