Grieving, traumatized survivors return to their homes 5 months after deadly Hong Kong fire

Thousands of residents displaced last year by a deadly fire in Hong Kong are returning to see what is left of their homes and retrieve their belongings.

HONG KONG — Keung Mak knew what he would see and he already was hurting, but he had to go back.

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For the first time since Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades engulfed his apartment building in November, Mak stepped into his former home again Monday. His social worker had previously shown him a photo of the devastation.

The ceiling of the apartment where he and his wife lived for over 40 years and raised their children was burned so badly that steel rebar was visible. The floor was littered with broken tiles and parts of the apartment needed reinforcement to prevent collapse.