An elderly man who lives in the Hong Kong high-rise where a horrific fire killed more than 120 people narrowly escaped the blaze — because his dog demanded a well-timed walk, he said.
Tsang, a retiree in his 70s, was returning from a stroll with his small-breed pup at around 3 p.m. Wednesday, when he spotted smoke rising from the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, where he lives with his wife and daughter.
“I saw a lot of smoke and flames. When I tried to go back upstairs, the firefighters had already blocked the way and were telling everyone to leave,” Tsang said, according to the South China Morning Post.
The raging inferno then ripped through the 32-story building, killing at least 128 people and hospitalizing more than 70 — in Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades, authorities said Friday.
Tsang said he feels “lucky enough” that his wife and daughter were not at home at the time — and that his pup needed to go out at the life-saving moment.
A sweet photo shows Tsang feeding his fortunate furball a snack on a bench near the site of the fire, as the adorable dog wears an orange hooded get-up.
On Friday, 200 people were unaccounted for as authorities scrambled to identify victims and firefighters put out still-smoldering chunks of the tower in the city’s Tai Po section.
Only 39 victims have been identified, with many of the bodies badly burned and police now plan to use DNA testing to help put names to bodies.
Tsang, who is temporarily homeless, said he plans to live with a friend while he finds a longer-term home.
Another eight people involved in the towers’ renovation were arrested, adding to the three who were busted earlier this week.
The inferno spread quickly from building to building as foam panels and bamboo scaffolding covered in netting apparently installed by the construction company caught fire.
With Post wires
