HONG KONG – Firefighters in Hong Kong are continuing to battle a devastating blaze at a high-rise residential complex in the Tai Po district, more than 24 hours after the inferno first erupted, with the confirmed death toll rising to at least 55 people, making it one of the city’s deadliest fires in decades.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The massive fire, which started on Wednesday afternoon at the Wang Fuk Court public housing estate, has left officials scrambling to account for hundreds of residents and sparked a criminal investigation into the construction company responsible for ongoing renovation work.
Uncontrolled Spread and Mounting Casualties
The blaze, which escalated to a Level 5 alarm—the city’s highest severity rating—spread with alarming speed across seven of the complex’s eight buildings. The fire is believed to have started in the bamboo scaffolding and construction netting surrounding one of the towers before rapidly engulfing the exterior and spreading to the interior of the dense residential blocks.
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Death Toll: Authorities confirmed on Thursday that 55 people have died, including one 37-year-old firefighter who succumbed to burn and inhalation injuries after losing contact with colleagues.
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Injured and Missing: At least 72 people have been reported injured, with many suffering from severe burns and smoke inhalation. Furthermore, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee reported that 279 people were unaccounted for overnight, though authorities have since managed to establish contact with some. Rescue operations remain challenging due to intense heat and thick smoke.
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Evacuations: Approximately 900 residents were evacuated from the complex, which houses around 4,800 people, and have been moved to temporary shelters.
“The temperature at the scene is very high and there are some floors where we have been unable to reach people who requested help, but we will keep trying,” said Derek Armstrong Chan, Deputy Director of Fire Service Operations.
Police Blame ‘Gross Negligence’ and Arrest Three
Police have launched a criminal investigation into the cause of the fire, alleging that unsafe materials and “gross negligence” by the construction firm may have contributed to the catastrophic scale and speed of the blaze.
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Arrests: Three men, including directors and an engineering consultant from the construction company, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
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Flammable Materials: Authorities suspect that materials used on the building’s exterior, including protective mesh, plastic sheeting, and highly flammable Styrofoam found near elevator lobbies, did not meet fire resistance standards.
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Scaffolding Scrutiny: The use of traditional, flammable bamboo scaffolding, common on Hong Kong building sites but due to be phased out for public projects, is under renewed scrutiny as a key factor in the fire’s rapid spread.
Police Superintendent Eileen Chung stated, “We have reason to believe that the company’s responsible parties were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties.”
A Community in Crisis
The Wang Fuk Court complex, built in the 1980s, is home to a densely packed community, including many elderly residents. Witnesses described scenes of chaos and desperation as flames climbed the buildings.
“The windows were closed because of the maintenance, (some people) didn’t know there was a fire and had to be told to evacuate via phone calls by neighbours,” a 65-year-old resident surnamed Yuen told reporters, reflecting the difficulties in a complex undergoing major renovation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed condolences and urged Hong Kong authorities to make every effort to minimize further casualties and losses. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee has pledged to mobilize all government resources for the rescue and relief operations, with a promise of a full investigation into the construction practices.
