Mainland solidarity

Technology support from the mainland was also crucial to the success of the rescue operation. The residents on the roof, for example, were located with thermal imaging drones sent from the mainland.

Ten drones and 20 exoskeleton assistive robots were provided by the Guangdong fire service a day after the fire broke out. The additional drones were deployed onsite to monitor the fire in real-time and quickly locate survivors.

Andy Yeung Yan-kin thanked central government, the Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management and the Guangdong fire service for what he says was the enormous support the Hong Kong firefighters received.

The timely aid from authorities and fire services across the nation had greatly enhanced the efficiency of the frontline firefighting and rescue efforts, he added.

The exoskeleton robots played a pivotal role in transporting large amounts of equipment used in firefighting and rescue operations to the ground from high floors and in shipping investigation tools to the scene.

"The exoskeleton could save up the energy of the firemen during the shipping of the equipment by 60 percent, sparing them sufficient energy to handle other tasks," Yeung said.

He noted the mammoth effort made by people employed across the fire department – from firefighters and rescue teams on the frontline, to those in control and call centers.

"During the operation, the firefighters were facing a very challenging and difficult situation," Yeung said.

"With a formidable belief in rescuing those in distress, we strive to save every life. During this process, we have often risked our lives."

As well as the danger presented by the fire, the long battle had taken its toll on the physical strength of the firefighters – a total of 12 were injured during the blaze, with one being knocked unconscious by bamboo scaffolding falling on his head.

"It was beyond my imagination, as a firefighter for almost 20 years, to see an inferno that had engulfed an entire housing estate," Lee Kwok-chun said.

"This time, thousands of flats were burned, unlike in normal cases where only one flat was on fire."

Seeing the flames ripping through the homes of thousands of residents, Lee Kwok-chun knew they had to act quicker than they ever had done if they were to locate those in peril and save as many lives as possible.