Newsletters
A massive fire tore through a residential complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district on Wednesday, killing at least 36 people and leaving 279 unaccounted for as firefighters battled into the early hours of Thursday to control the blaze that engulfed multiple tower blocks.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee confirmed the death toll at a press briefing shortly after midnight, reporting that 29 people remained hospitalized with seven in critical condition. The fire at Wang Fuk Court, which houses approximately 4,600 residents across eight 31-story tower blocks, has been classified as level five, the most serious category in the city's emergency response system.
The blaze erupted at 2:51 p.m. local time Wednesday, rapidly spreading through bamboo scaffolding that covered the buildings undergoing renovation work. More than 700 firefighters deployed to the scene, where flames could be seen through apartment windows and emergency crews worked from elevated platforms to spray water onto the burning structures. Local witnesses reported hearing loud blasts and seeing sparks fly from the buildings as the fire raged.
Emergency responders managed to rescue a baby and an elderly woman from the complex, both of whom received oxygen treatment before being transported to hospital, according to local media reports. Footage showed the infant being wheeled on a gurney into an ambulance, while separate video captured two women being placed into emergency vehicles.
Tai Po District Councillor Mui Siu-fung told the BBC that seven of the eight blocks were affected by the fire, with external scaffolding severely damaged. He estimated that approximately 95 percent of residents had been evacuated, though firefighters remained unable to safely enter the buildings to conduct thorough search and rescue operations. "The block where the fire first started, you could see flames inside through the windows," Mui said.
Residents who escaped described scenes of chaos and uncertainty. Harry Cheung, a 66-year-old who has lived in the complex for more than four decades, told reporters he heard a very loud noise around 2:45 p.m. and immediately saw fire erupt in a nearby block. "I don't even know how I feel right now," Cheung said. "I'm just thinking about where I'm going to sleep tonight because I probably won't be able to go back home."
The Hong Kong government confirmed that a 37-year-old firefighter, Ho Wai-ho, died while fighting the fire. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung described Ho as "dedicated and gallant" in an official statement expressing condolences to his family. Ho sustained injuries during operations and was pronounced dead at Prince of Wales Hospital.
The firefighter's death prompted an outpouring of concern from residents at evacuation centers. A group of young people delivering supplies to affected residents said they hoped all firefighters would return home safely, telling the BBC they were "immensely heartbroken" by the disaster.
Hong Kong's Home Affairs Department opened multiple community centers as temporary shelters, with some schools also made available for displaced residents. Housing Minister Winnie Ho announced that authorities had identified 1,400 housing units immediately available across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, with approximately 280 located in Tai Po itself. Forty evacuated residents had already moved into transitional housing in Shan Liu.
District Councillor Mui reported that more than a thousand people gathered at a single evacuation point near the fire scene before being relocated to safer facilities. Fellow councillor Li Man-kit said residents flooded local officials with requests for help after losing contact with family members inside the burning buildings. "Many people sent us WhatsApp messages or called us, saying they still have relatives inside or can't find them," Mui said.
At temporary shelters, evacuees wrapped themselves in blankets as they waited for news. One young woman at the scene told the BBC she was waiting to learn whether friends who lived in the affected buildings had managed to escape. University student Tomas Liu, who witnessed emergency operations, described the intensity of the blaze: "When you get closer the heat rises and you can feel it and the smoke is really heavy. It's a disaster."
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences over the deaths, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Multiple political parties announced they would suspend campaigning for Hong Kong's upcoming Legislative Council election as a show of unity and support for affected residents. Several schools in the Tai Po district confirmed they would remain closed Thursday.
Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and consists of 1,984 apartments. The complex was undergoing major repairs at the time of the fire, with all buildings covered in bamboo scaffolding that appears to have facilitated the rapid spread of flames across multiple structures. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire, and it remains unclear exactly how many people may still be trapped inside the buildings.
3 min read
