As a major fire disaster occurred in Hong Kong, the possibility of postponing the '2025 MAMA' has been raised.
On the 26th (local time), a large fire broke out at the high-rise APT. complex Wong Fuk Court in the Tai Po area of northern Hong Kong. According to local media on the 27th, John Lee, chief executive of Hong Kong, said that 44 people died because of the fire. In addition, 29 people were taken to hospitals with injuries, and the number of missing was counted at 279.
The fire started at about 2:51 p.m. on the 26th, and although the cause of ignition has not yet been determined, it is estimated that the blaze grew as flames spread to bamboo scaffolding (temporary construction structures) surrounding the building that was under renovation. In response, Hong Kong police arrested three men responsible for the building's repair work on suspicion of murder or negligent homicide.
The complex where the fire occurred consists of eight buildings in total, and about 4,800 people in 2,000 households are reported to live there. Of the seven buildings that caught fire, four have been extinguished, and three buildings are still undergoing firefighting operations about 16 hours after the fire began. Accordingly, Hong Kong authorities raised the alert level to 5, the highest grade, at 6:22 p.m. the previous day. The level 5 alert is the first since the 2008 Mong Kok nightclub fire, which killed four people and injured 55.
As a result, this fire is emerging as possibly the deadliest fire disaster in Hong Kong since its handover from Britain to China in 1997. Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the fallen firefighters and the families of the victims and urged minimizing the damage, state-run China Central Television (CCTV) reported.
Also, campaign activities related to the Legislative Council election scheduled for the 7th of next month have been suspended entirely, and John Lee said he would consider the need to postpone the election.
Meanwhile, there is also the possibility of postponing various events, including the K-pop awards ceremony "2025 MAMA AWARDS" (hereinafter 2025 MAMA Awards), which was scheduled to be held at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Stadium on the 28th and 29th.
On the day, IVE, ALLDAY PROJECT and Stray Kids departed for Hong Kong through Incheon International Airport to attend '2025 MAMA.' In addition, ALPHABRAVEONE, NCT WISH, TWS, Hearts2Hearts, BABYMONSTER, Miyao, IZNAA, RIIZE, ZEROBASEONE, Cortis, (G)I-DLE, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, KickFlip, ENHYPEN, BOYNEXTDOOR and others have already gone to Hong Kong and are awaiting the ceremony.
However, the event's holding has become uncertain due to the large-scale disaster in Hong Kong just before the awards. Regarding this, MAMA said cautiously, "We will check the relevant details and contact you."
[Photo] CJ ENM, OSEN DB
[OSEN]