A level 5 fire broke out at Hong Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on the 26th. A Filipino domestic helper, who had just arrived in Hong Kong a few days earlier, clung tightly to her 3-month-old charge amid thick smoke and flames, remaining trapped in the household with the baby for several hours until both were rescued by firefighters. She is currently in critical condition and being treated in the intensive care unit.
According to Sing Tao Daily, Rodora Alcazar had only started working in Hong Kong days before the incident. When the fire broke out, thick smoke quickly poured into the unit, trapping her, her employers, and the baby inside. Throughout, she never loosened her embrace, holding the baby tightly and shielding the infant from heat and smoke with her body to ensure the child was not harmed.
● The baby's condition is stable
Firefighters arrived on scene, broke down the door, and rescued those inside. When rescuers found her in the scene, she was still holding on to the baby in the same posture. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital, given initial treatment, and then transferred to the intensive care unit for intubation, where she remains in critical condition.
The three-month-old baby is in stable condition and has received proper care.
● Concern among the domestic helper community and the public
Before Rodora was rescued, her sister in the Philippines posted a video on social media stating that her sister was still trapped in the fire and her fate was unknown, calling on the public to help rescue her beloved sister. The incident has since drawn wide attention from both the domestic helper community and the general public. In particular, many netizens have expressed wishes for Rodora’s speedy recovery and gratitude for her bravery in protecting the baby during the crisis.
The Philippines has stated that it is following the situation, confirming that at least one domestic helper (namely Rodora) is hospitalized in critical condition, with another worker unaccounted for.
The Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong has confirmed that two Indonesian domestic helpers sadly lost their lives in the fire, and another two Indonesian domestic helpers were injured.