By Saadet Gokce
ISTANBUL (AA) - The death toll from Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades rose to 161 on Saturday, as one more person was confirmed dead via forensic analysis.
"Further forensic tests found the DNA of another person in one of the bodies, identified as belonging to a couple. This means the death toll has increased to 161," Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming said on Saturday after a passing-out parade at the Hong Kong Police College, reported the South China Morning Post.
"DNA tests are being carried out. We do not rule out the possibility that other deceased people may be found and the death toll may rise," he added.
The police chief said all six previous missing cases had been confirmed. Five people were confirmed dead in the fire, with another dying in 2023.
Earlier, police reached out to around 100 households of the residential complex to collect DNA samples to identify victims.
In Tai Po's Wang Fuk Court area, a 43-hour fire engulfed seven residential blocks, including over 1,900 apartments, causing the worst fire in decades.
All eight of the buildings had been covered in bamboo scaffolding and mesh nets during the renovations, while polystyrene foam boards were used to cover windows.
The fire left nearly 5,000 people homeless.
Earlier this week, authorities announced a two-year annual rental subsidy of HK$150,000 (US$19,278) for flat owners displaced by the fire. Both flat owners and tenants were given a one-off subsidy of HK$50,000 for their relocation.