HONG KONG – A raging fire that tore through seven high-rise residential towers in Tai Po New Territories on Wednesday afternoon has turned into the city’s worst fire disaster since 1996, leaving at least 44 people confirmed dead, 29 injured, and 279 others still unaccounted for as rescue operations entered their second day.
The blaze erupted shortly after 4:20 p.m. on November 26 at Wang Fuk Court (also known as Wah Fook Court), a 31–32-storey public housing estate undergoing major renovation. Within minutes, flames raced up the bamboo scaffolding that enveloped all eight blocks, turning the structures into towering infernos and trapping hundreds of residents inside.
Firefighters described scenes of horror as desperate residents waved towels from windows 20–30 storeys above ground while molten debris and burning scaffolding rained down. “It was like a chimney effect,” one senior fire officer told reporters. “The bamboo scaffolding and nylon safety netting acted as perfect fuel, spreading fire vertically in seconds.”
By Thursday morning, the Fire Services Department confirmed 44 fatalities, including one off-duty firefighter who succumbed to injuries sustained while rescuing residents. Seven of the 29 hospitalized victims remain in critical condition. The number of missing – currently 279 – is expected to rise as authorities cross-reference hospital records and emergency hotline data.
Three Construction Workers Arrested on Manslaughter Charges
In a swift move late Wednesday, Hong Kong Police arrested three men aged 52, 63, and 68 – all employees of the main renovation contractor – on suspicion of manslaughter. Investigators believe the company used highly flammable polystyrene insulation boards and substandard fire-retardant netting despite repeated warnings from residents.
One tenant, speaking on condition of anonymity, told this reporter: “We complained for months about workers smoking on the bamboo scaffolding and loose netting flapping in the wind. Nobody listened.”
Authorities revealed that the scaffolding had not been treated with fire-resistant coating, and the safety netting melted instantly when exposed to flames, creating a deadly upward draft that pulled the fire through all eight blocks in under 15 minutes.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, visibly shaken during a midnight press conference, described the incident as “a tragedy that has broken Hong Kong’s heart.” He announced the formation of an independent task force to investigate construction safety standards across the city and promised full government support for affected families.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang sent messages of condolence, with Xi ordering “all-out efforts” to rescue survivors and investigate the cause.
Rescue Efforts Continue Amid Toxic Smoke and Falling Debris
As of 11:00 a.m. Thursday, fire crews have declared four of the eight blocks “under control,” but thick toxic smoke and the constant risk of collapsing scaffolding have severely hampered search-and-rescue dogs and drone teams. Specialized high-rise rescue units from mainland China are expected to arrive this afternoon to assist with interior searches on floors 25 and above.
More than 1,400 temporary shelter places have been arranged in nearby schools and community halls, and the Housing Authority has pledged priority rehousing for all displaced residents.
A Grim Record
The death toll has already surpassed the 1996 Garley Building fire in Jordan, which killed 41 people and led to the complete overhaul of Hong Kong’s building safety laws. Tragically, nearly three decades later, many fear those hard-won lessons may have been forgotten.
For now, the people of Hong Kong can only watch and pray as rescue teams pick through the blackened skeleton of Wang Fuk Court, hoping against hope that the final count will not climb into the hundreds.
