Tragedy and Heroism: Hong Kong Fire Claims 146 Lives, Leaves Migrant Workers in Crisis

Several people remain missing after the devastating Hong Kong fire.

In China's Hong Kong, Victoria Park became a place of mourning as hundreds of migrant workers gathered to honor victims of the city's most devastating fire in over a century, with many sobbing as they prayed for missing friends and colleagues.

The disaster has left numerous migrant workers in a state of uncertainty and grief. Of the 146 people who perished in the Wang Fuk Court high-rise fire, at least 10 were migrant workers—an often overlooked yet vital segment of Hong Kong's workforce.

According to information collected by AFP from consulates, dozens more remain unaccounted for.

Hong Kong hosts approximately 370,000 migrant domestic workers, primarily women from the Philippines and Indonesia. These workers provide essential care for infants and elderly residents in a city facing significant demographic aging challenges.

With Sunday typically being their only day off, prayer gatherings were organized across various Hong Kong neighborhoods. Attendees shared stories about missing friends and expressed concerns about inadequate support for survivors.

Sudarsih, an Indonesian worker with 15 years of experience in Hong Kong, revealed that two of her friends were still missing. "God bless, they will be found quickly and are safe," she expressed hopefully.

At Victoria Park, attendees sang hymns and prayed near a banner that read: "Dearly departed ones: highest respect and recognition to the loyalty and bravery of migrant domestic workers."

Dwi Sayekti, 38, voiced her hope that this tragedy would be the "first and last." "I hope in the future, it doesn't happen again. And all of those who lost their lives in Tai Po can be found," she said with a trembling voice.

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong's central business district, approximately 100 Filipino workers held their own prayer meeting at their regular Sunday gathering spot, surrounded by towering office buildings.

"We are praying that hopefully there will be no more casualties in this fire tragedy," stated Dolores Balladares, chairwoman of United Filipinos in Hong Kong.

Many well-wishes were directed toward Rhodora Alcaraz, a Filipino worker who had only begun her employment in Hong Kong days before the disaster. According to widely circulated reports, Alcaraz heroically shielded her employer's three-month-old infant with her body when the fire erupted.

When firefighters discovered them in the smoke-filled apartment, she was still cradling the baby. Reports indicate Alcaraz was admitted to an intensive care unit, though her current condition remains unconfirmed.

Fellow migrant worker Michelle Magcale expressed feeling "so sad" and "speechless" upon hearing about Alcaraz's actions. "On behalf of her duty, on behalf of her responsibility, she saved one more life... we are thankful for that," she added.

Balladares commended Alcaraz's sacrifice, saying, "We also salute her because she gave her best... to protect the family."

Manila's consulate in Hong Kong confirmed that Maryan Pascual Esteban lost her life in the fire, leaving behind a 10-year-old son and family in Cainta, Rizal. One Filipino national was injured, while the status of seven others remains unverified.

Jakarta's consulate reported nine Indonesian fatalities, one injury, and 42 individuals still unaccounted for.

According to Shiela Tebia, spokeswoman for the Asian Migrants' Coordinating Body, more than 50 survivors have sought assistance from her organization. These women urgently need clothing, especially underwear, as their identification documents and passports were destroyed in the fire.

The survivors are "still processing, and some actually cannot sleep well... they are also traumatized," Tebia told AFP. "But despite that condition, they still need to support their employer because their employer is also grieving."

Tebia noted that while consulates have promised assistance, specific details about support measures remain unclear.

Sringatin, chair of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union, criticized the Indonesian consulate for failing to provide timely information while her organization worked to "make people less panicked."

Family members of each deceased victim will receive HK$200,000 ($25,700) in government assistance. However, Edwina Antonio, executive director at Bethune House migrant women's refuge, emphasized that this was merely an "initial step."

"What about those who survived?" she questioned. "(Those) who are still in Hong Kong, they lost everything that they have."

Antonio urged the government to include migrant workers in financial assistance programs, highlighting that they are "often the only breadwinners of their families."