Hong Kong warns ‘external forces’ working to exploit apartment fire, as death toll rises to 159

Police say number of dead may still be revised as ‘suspected human bones’ found during search require forensic testing

Hong Kong and Beijing officials have warned against what they claim are “external forces” threatening to exploit last week’s deadly apartment complex fire for political disruption, as rescuers say at least 159 people have been confirmed dead.

The fire at the Wang Fuk Court in northern Hong Kong is the city’s worst disaster in 75 years, and the world’s most fatal residential building fire since 1980. The eight-tower complex – home to nearly 5,000 people – was under extensive renovations that have since been found to contain substandard, flammable materials.