The blaze that engulfed Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po has become Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades. Officials say at least 83 people are dead and hundreds remain missing after flames swept through multiple high-rise blocks wrapped in bamboo scaffolding during ongoing renovations.
Firefighters faced intense heat, collapsing debris, and smoke as the fire spread through the towers. The bamboo scaffolding and safety netting appear to have accelerated the flames, making the blaze far more challenging to contain.
Police have arrested two directors and an engineering consultant from the renovation contractor on suspicion of manslaughter. According to authorities, the firm allegedly used unsafe materials that allowed the fire to spread quickly and caused catastrophic loss of life.
The scale of devastation is staggering. Nearly 4,600 people lived in the eight-tower estate. Many residents remain unaccounted for; some families are desperately seeking news of loved ones. One grieving resident, a 52-year-old woman identified only by her surname Ng, wept outside a shelter, saying, “She and her father are still not out yet.”
The disaster has put a spotlight on Hong Kong’s oversight of renovations and its overall building-safety framework. Critics say the city has seen similar risks before, and the scale of this incident raises urgent questions about how these projects are monitored.
The community and authorities are still coming to terms with the full human and structural toll.
Subscribe to our newsletter for more updates, industry insights, and breaking stories.
