Hong Kong: Dozens Dead and Hundreds Missing in Tai Po High-Rise Inferno

Cover image: Firefighters work to extinguish a fire which broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a residential estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong’s New Territories, Wednesday, Nov. 26 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

HONG KONG—A catastrophic residential fire in Hong Kong has claimed the lives of at least forty-four (44) people, including one firefighter, with a further two hundred and seventy-nine (279) individuals currently unaccounted for. The blaze, described as the city's deadliest in decades, swept through multiple 32-storey tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court complex in the Tai Po district, prompting the arrest of three construction firm officials on suspicion of manslaughter.

The inferno, which began on Wednesday afternoon and was escalated to a Level Five alarm—the highest severity rating—tore across seven of the eight residential towers. The rapid spread is suspected to have been significantly accelerated by highly flammable materials used in renovation work, specifically the ubiquitous bamboo scaffolding and green construction mesh enveloping the buildings.

Fire Service personnel battled the flames through the night, with the operation severely hampered by intense heat and debris falling from the collapsing scaffolding. Officials confirmed that forty-five (45) casualties remain in hospital in critical condition, suffering from severe burns and smoke inhalation.

The city’s Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, has pledged a comprehensive and rigorous investigation into the incident, stating that the government’s immediate priority remains rescue and recovery efforts.

"The scale and speed of this fire are highly unusual," he told reporters. "We believe the responsible parties for the maintenance work were grossly negligent, which contributed to this uncontrollable spread and the resultant major loss of life."

Police confirmed the arrest of two directors and an engineering consultant from the construction company responsible for the maintenance programme at the complex. They face questioning over safety failures, including the alleged use of external insulating foam and protective netting that did not meet required fire resistance standards.

The Wang Fuk Court complex, home to nearly 5,000 residents, is a subsidised public housing estate, which includes a large proportion of elderly residents and foreign domestic workers. Hundreds of residents have been evacuated to emergency shelters, with local authorities struggling to ascertain the welfare of all those still listed as uncontactable.

The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that its Consulate General in Hong Kong is actively investigating reports that several Filipino nationals, primarily domestic workers, may be among those affected by the blaze. While no casualties or injuries among Filipino citizens have been confirmed at this time, the Consulate is coordinating closely with the Hong Kong Police Force and Fire Service to verify the status of those listed as uncontactable, and remains ready to provide immediate assistance to any affected national.