A devastating fire at the Wang Fuk Court public housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has left at least 44 people dead and 279 others unaccounted for, in what authorities describe as the city’s worst blaze in more than six decades. The inferno, which broke out on Wednesday afternoon, tore through multiple high-rise blocks, with flames spreading rapidly along bamboo scaffolding and green construction mesh that wrapped the buildings undergoing renovation. More than 60 residents have been injured, including at least 45 in serious or critical condition, as hundreds of firefighters battled the blaze for over 16 hours.
Officials said the fire started in one of the eight residential towers in the complex before racing up and across seven blocks, sending thick plumes of smoke across the Tai Po skyline and forcing desperate residents to shelter on balconies and rooftops.
The fire spread in a way that was highly unusual, and we have serious concerns about the materials used on the building exteriors,” a Fire Services Department spokesperson said, noting the role of polystyrene and scaffolding in accelerating the flames.
Authorities raised the incident to a top-level No 5 alarm within hours, signalling maximum deployment of emergency resources.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu called the disaster a “massive catastrophe” and vowed a full investigation, including criminal probes into possible negligence in renovation and safety management. Police confirmed that three people linked to the estate’s building maintenance operations have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter as detectives search company premises and examine fire safety compliance records.
“Every responsible party will be held to account,” an officer involved in the probe said, adding that early findings suggest multiple safety failures.
The human toll continues to mount as families crowd into community halls and hospitals in search of loved ones, with more than 900 residents taking refuge at temporary shelters set up across Tai Po.
President Xi Jinping has issued condolences and urged “all-out efforts” to minimise further casualties, while Hong Kong officials warned the death toll could rise as search teams push into the most badly damaged floors.
Electioneering activities ahead of the city’s 7 December polls have been suspended, and the government is reviewing whether the vote needs to be postponed as the territory grapples with its deadliest fire in decades.
Citations:
[1] Ferocious blaze in Hong Kong leaves at least 44 dead, 279 … https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334217/major-fire-hong-kongs-tai-po-leaves-2-severely-burned-residents-trapped
[2] Hong Kong: At least 44 dead and hundreds missing after … https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg165d7ppvo