{"id":1034102,"date":"2026-06-18T07:40:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T07:40:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1034102\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T07:40:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T07:40:24","slug":"asteroid-named-to-honour-fallen-hong-kong-tower-block-blaze-firefighter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1034102\/","title":{"rendered":"Asteroid named to honour fallen Hong Kong tower block blaze firefighter"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An asteroid discovered by a Hong Kong-born astronomer has been named after a firefighter who died battling an inferno at a housing complex in the financial hub that killed 168 people last year.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_6762-Copy-1050x700.jpg\" alt=\"A fire engine converted into a hearse carrying the casket of firefighter Ho Wai-ho, who died in the Wang Fuk Court fire, on December 19, 2025. Photo: Kyle Lam\/HKFP.\" class=\"wp-image-547886\"  \/>A fire engine converted into a hearse carrying the casket of firefighter Ho Wai-ho, who died in the Wang Fuk Court fire, on December 19, 2025. Photo: Kyle Lam\/HKFP.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ho Wai-ho, 37, died in the line of duty as the blaze engulfed several tower blocks at Wang Fuk Court in northern Hong Kong in November.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hongkongfp.com\/support-hong-kong-free-press\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" alt=\"HKFP Promo\" class=\"wp-image-561002 perfmatters-lazy\" style=\"width:728px;height:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/HKFP-Promo.png\"  data-\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The minor planet, designated 34871, was discovered in 2001 by amateur astronomer William Yeung.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1050\" height=\"700\" alt=\"Firefighters bury Ho Wai-ho, who died in the Wang Fuk Court fire, at Gallant Garden on December 19, 2025. Photo: Kyle Lam\/HKFP.\" class=\"wp-image-547925 perfmatters-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_6794-Copy-1050x700.jpg\"  data-\/>Firefighters bury Ho Wai-ho, who died in the Wang Fuk Court fire, at Gallant Garden on December 19, 2025. Photo: Kyle Lam\/HKFP.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ho \u201cserved with courage in fire and rescue operations, assisting in the evacuation of residents during emergencies\u201d, read the citation records on the International Astronomical Union\u2019s website.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ho\u2019s fiancee Kiki, whose surname is not known, said in a Tuesday social media post that the astronomer had shared the news with her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis asteroid may not be visible to the human eye, but the essence it represents is genuine and eternal,\u201d she said Yeung had told her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMr Ho Wai-ho\u2019s name will remain forever in the solar system,\u201d he had added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Announcing the news, Kiki wrote: \u201cDearest 34871 Ho Wai-ho, as a star you will forever watch over us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#edf7ff;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><strong>Safeguard press freedom; 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