The photo that became a symbol for Hong Kong’s deadly blaze

It was a clear afternoon with blue skies and a cool breeze as Mr Wong set off to pick up his granddaughter from school.

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The 71-year-old retiree and his wife took turns making the walk to school from their apartment complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district.

On Nov 26 - the day a deadly fire devastated the Wang Fuk Court housing estate — it just happened to be his day to go.

Soon after he left home, Mr Wong, who asked to be identified only by his surname, realised a fire had broken out at one of the towers in the complex.

By the time he returned, leaving his granddaughter behind as he fled quickly, flames were pouring out of the middle floors of the tower where he and his wife lived.

“My wife is inside,” he screamed, pointing at the flames engulfing the apartment block.

A week after, his wife is still unaccounted for and is among the 30 people listed missing. At least 159 people were killed.