At least 44 people have died after a major fire tore through several high-rise buildings in Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood on Wednesday afternoon, officials said. Firefighters continued working to reach people trapped inside and to extinguish remaining blazes.
What happened
An apartment complex at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po caught fire at about 2:51pm (06:51 GMT) on Wednesday. The estate, built in 1983, comprises eight high-rise blocks with a total of 1,984 flats. Local reports say seven of the buildings were affected; by early Thursday morning four buildings had been brought under control while crews continued to work on three others more than 16 hours after the blaze began.
How the fire started and spread
The fire began on bamboo scaffolding fitted to the exterior for renovation work. Bamboo scaffolding and the green construction netting wrapped around the towers burned easily, allowing flames to shoot up building exteriors and spread rapidly to adjacent blocks. Burning debris fell and ignited neighbouring structures within minutes. Wind and open gaps from renovation work likely accelerated the spread.
Police said mesh and other protective materials on the outside did not appear fireproof, and styrofoam was found on some windows. Authorities have described the flammable scaffolding and materials, together with the height and density of the towers, as factors that allowed the fire to get out of control.
Timeline and alerts
Local media reported the fire escalated quickly: it reached a level four alarm by about 3:34pm (07:34 GMT) and a level five alarm — Hong Kong’s highest — by 6:22pm (10:22 GMT). The blaze is the deadliest in the city since at least August 1962, when a Sham Shui Po fire killed 44 people; a 1996 Garley Building fire killed 41.
Casualties, evacuations and hospitals
Authorities confirmed 44 deaths, including one firefighter. About 279 residents were reported unaccounted for. The Hong Kong Hospital Authority said at least 66 people had been admitted to hospital, with 17 in critical condition and 24 listed as serious. Four people died in hospital. About 900 people have sought shelter in community centres.
Response and conditions on the ground
The Hong Kong Fire Services Department mobilised more than 1,200 fire and ambulance personnel to the scene. Fire officials said extreme heat and falling debris and scaffolding prevented access to some upper-floor apartments and made operations riskier, especially overnight and during darkness. Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of fire services, said crews would keep trying to reach unreachable floors but faced high interior temperatures and additional hazards.
Investigations and arrests
Police allege gross negligence by those running the renovation work and have arrested two company directors and an engineering consultant, aged between 52 and 68, in connection with the fire. Eileen Chung, senior superintendent at the Hong Kong Police Force, said investigators believe negligence contributed to the uncontrollable spread and major casualties. Investigations into the exact cause and the materials used are ongoing.
Context
Wang Fuk Court is part of Hong Kong’s subsidised home-ownership scheme and is home to about 300,000 people in the Tai Po area. Property records show the complex has been undergoing major renovation work, with reported costs around $42.43 million. Authorities had issued heightened fire alerts since Monday because dry weather raised fire risks.
What officials say next
Firefighting and rescue efforts continued while investigators and police collected evidence and questioned those involved with the renovation. Officials warned that rescue operations would remain difficult until temperatures inside affected buildings fell and unstable exterior scaffolding and debris were secured.