XN000022-1996-11-21 — Page 21

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Tsim Sha Tsui fire update

The tragic No. 5 alarm fire which has raged for more than 19 hours and resulted in 32 deaths at Garley Building in Tsim Sha Tsui is still ablaze.

As at 12.30 pm today (Thursday), the total number of persons injured is 79. This includes 11 fire officers.

All-out efforts by government departments concerned to take remedial measures to assist victims and their families is now underway.

On the part of the Social Welfare Department, social workers of the department are now liasing closely with their counterparts at Queen Elizabeth Hopital and Kwong Wah Hospital to assist those admitted to the hospitals and to follow up with families.

Departmental clinical psychologists will be deployed to provide critical incident stress debriefing at 2.30 pm on Saturday (November 23) at the Henry G. Leong Yau Ma Tei Community Centre to victims and family members affected the the fire. They will follow up with those dsicharged.

Meanwhile, family services centre personnel will reach out to the family members of those deceased and those discharged from hospitals.

Appropirate assistance, such as financial aid in terms of burial grants, charitable funds and CSSA, child care arrangements and counselling, will be offered when necessary.

The department has established links with the Police to ensure information on missing persons be made available to family members. Follow-up actions will be taken by social workers and psychologists.

Affected family members who want to enquire about welfare services may contact the Medical Social Work Unit of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on telephone 2958 7078.

On traffic situation, according to the latest information from the Transport Department, 22 bus routes from Tsim Sha Tsui northbound have to re-route via Canton Road; 13 soutbound routes to Jordon and China/HK Ferry Terminal via Shanghai Street and Canton Road; and seven westbound routes via Gascogne Road.

Meanwhile, the Home Affairs Department has also mobilised staff of all District Officers to visit families of the deceased and injured, and is in close liaison with the Social Welfare Department, to render every assistance to those in need.

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