HONG KONG, CHINA — The massive fire that swept through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong has resulted in a staggering humanitarian catastrophe, with the death toll currently standing at 128 confirmed fatalities and approximately 200 people still unaccounted for.
The tragedy has now touched the American baseball community, with reports confirming that a relative of former Chicago Cubs World Series manager David Ross was among the victims.
The Heartbreak: A Relative of David Ross Identified
While authorities are proceeding slowly to release the names of the dead, due to the need for careful identification of the 89 unidentified bodies recovered, confirmation has emerged that the disaster claimed a life connected to the Cubs organization.
- The victim was identified as a relative of former Chicago Cubs Manager David Ross.
- The exact relationship and the individual’s name have not yet been publicly disclosed by the family or officials, respecting their privacy during this period of intense grief.
David Ross, who managed the Cubs from 2020 to 2023 and was a beloved figure in the 2016 World Series, is undoubtedly mourning this devastating loss alongside the rest of the world.
Confirmed Identities and The Deeper Tragedy
The scale of the disaster is overwhelming, with the fire spreading rapidly across seven of the complex’s eight 32-story towers. The confirmed dead include:
- A 37-year-old Firefighter: Ho Wai-ho, who died in the line of duty.
- Indonesian and Filipino Domestic Workers: At least two Indonesian domestic workers are confirmed to have died, with numerous other migrant workers who lived in the complex still missing.
The tragic speed of the blaze is being blamed on highly flammable construction materials—including bamboo scaffolding and polystyrene foam—used during ongoing renovations, leading to the arrest of three construction company executives on suspicion of manslaughter.
The city of Hong Kong has begun a three-day mourning period, with flags flying at half-mast, as it struggles to cope with the deadliest fire the territory has seen in decades.
