A catastrophic fire swept through a high-rise residential complex in Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po District of Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon (26 November 2025), leaving at least 44 people dead, dozens injured, and hundreds still unaccounted for. The disaster has shaken the city and triggered urgent calls for stricter building-safety regulations.
What happened — How the fire spread so fast
- The fire reportedly began around 2:50 pm local time on the external bamboo scaffolding of one of the towers undergoing renovation. That scaffolding — wrapped in bamboo and green netting — caught fire and quickly spread the blaze to adjacent high-rise buildings.
- Strong winds and the highly flammable renovation materials (including plastic netting and possibly unsafe insulation) helped the flames leap between buildings in minutes. Within hours, seven of the eight towers in the complex were engulfed.
- The fire department raised the alarm to a Level-5 fire, the highest possible in Hong Kong’s classification, prompting a massive rescue operation.
Human Toll and Ongoing Rescue
- As of the latest official figures: at least 44 people have perished. Among them is reportedly a firefighter who died attempting rescue.
- Around 279 people remain missing, with dozens more injured — many hospitalized in critical condition. Hundreds of residents have been evacuated.
- Almost 900 people have been moved to temporary shelters. Emergency services — including more than 128 fire-engines, 60+ ambulances and hundreds of firefighters — remain engaged in search and relief operations.
Arrests and Cause Under Investigation
Authorities have arrested three men — two directors and an engineering consultant of the construction company responsible for renovation — on suspicion of manslaughter, citing “gross negligence.”
Early investigations point to the use of combustible renovation materials, bamboo scaffolding, and non-fire-resistant nets or insulation as the key factors in how fast the fire spread.
Broader Implications — Safety Under Scrutiny
This fire — one of the deadliest in Hong Kong in decades — has reignited scrutiny over construction and renovation safety, especially the widespread use of bamboo scaffolding wrapped with mesh/netting. Hong Kong authorities and residents are now calling for stricter enforcement of fire-safety and building regulations.
Analysts warn that in high-density urban areas like Hong Kong — with many aging residential towers undergoing renovation — this tragedy might become a grim wake-up call. Without rigorous safety standards and oversight, renovation work could repeatedly put residents at grave risk.
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