On a clear autumn afternoon with blue skies and a refreshing breeze, Wong began his walk to pick up his granddaughter from school.
The 71-year-old retiree and his wife alternated making the trip from their home in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district.
That Wednesday — the day a devastating fire struck the Wang Fuk Court housing estate — it was Wong’s turn.
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Shortly after leaving, Wong, who preferred to be identified only by his last name, noticed a fire had erupted at one of the towers.
Returning quickly and leaving his granddaughter behind, he found flames engulfing the floors of the tower where he and his wife lived.
“My wife is inside,” he shouted, pointing at the blazing building.
A week after the disaster, Wong’s wife remains missing among the 30 unaccounted for, with at least 156 people killed.
Wong’s heart-wrenching moment — arms raised in despair against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since 1948 — was captured by Reuters.
Reuters photographer Tyrone Siu witnessed Wong’s frantic grief upon arriving about an hour after the blaze began.
“It’s an image that conveys everything instantly,” Siu remarked. “Anyone can empathize with Mr. Wong’s helplessness and sorrow.”
Wong’s son spoke to Reuters as police in hazmat suits searched for bodies. By Tuesday, there was still no news on Wong’s wife.
J Wong, also withholding his full name, expressed a desire to share their family’s story as part of healing.
Authorities cited poor quality materials used in renovations for the fire’s rapid spread across seven towers, housing over 4,000 people.
“Initially, he couldn’t accept it,” Wong’s son told Reuters. His father understood from the building’s state that his wife was lost.
At one point, Wong’s wife called him shortly after the fire started, but the conversation was brief, their son said. “She disappeared soon after.”
Wong, a former building maintenance foreman and certified electrician and plumber, had concerns about the renovation work’s safety hazards.
He removed styrofoam from their windows, replacing it with fire-resistant film, and regularly dampened the mesh outside, his son noted.
“Despite his precautions, he couldn’t prevent the tragedy,” the son shared.
After the photo was taken, Wong watched in horror, falling to the pavement. As night descended, a police officer offered him a stool.
“I will come find you,” he murmured towards his home, speaking to his wife.
