Hong Kong Fire Survivors Return to Ruins

0:00It's April 19th. This is Canada News today, AI-powered stories from your city. I'm Cory with the story. Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades hit a typo apartment complex last November, claiming 168 lives across 7 of 8 buildings. Starting Monday, thousands of survivors are heading back for the first time to check their ruined homes and grab any salvageable stuff with visits. Stretching into early May. Officers are busted in these 31-story towers, so over 1,400 folks aged 65 or older have been training to climb. The stairs. Exterior still look charred, and many units are so wrecked they need props to stay upright, limiting groups to just two or four people for up to. Three hours inside. Residents like 78-year-old Kang Mak are gutted, staring at melted ceilings and exposed rebar in places they live for decades. His wife, 74-year-old Kit Chan, fears cherished items like wedding photos and old letters are

1:01ash now. Even those in the one unscathed building feel the trauma, haunted by memories of lost neighbors. An ongoing probe points the human error, knocking out nearly all fire safety gear that day. Officials leaned toward demolishing the seven damaged buildings since repairs seemed too pricey, offering to buy back ownership and relocate people. Though a survey shows only half the apartments took serious hits. As families document the damage and push for truth or repairs, the road to resettlement stays bumpy, leaving elders and survivors bracing for tough. The choice is ahead.