Hong Kong woke up to one of the darkest mornings in recent memory after a massive blaze tore through Wang Fuk Court, a high-rise residential estate in the Tai Po district. The fire, which started on Wednesday afternoon and burned for hours into Thursday, left 36 people dead, a firefighter among them, and 279 residents unaccounted for, according to Chief Executive John Lee. The scale of the tragedy has shaken the city, prompting grief, anger, and urgent questions about fire safety in high-rise clusters.
Officials said three people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, adding to the shock of a disaster that played out in real time as residents ran through smoke-filled corridors and collapsing scaffolding.
Where Did the Fire Begin?
The first signs of the blaze appeared on the external scaffolding of a 32-storey tower in the estate. Witnesses reported hearing cracking sounds before flames raced upward, pushed by strong winds. Within a short time, the fire had spread inside the building and jumped to nearby towers, affecting seven high-rises in the complex.
Wang Fuk Court comprises eight residential towers with about 2,000 flats and is home to nearly 4,800 people, including many elderly residents. For families living there, the speed of the fire meant escape routes became dangerous within minutes.
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Why Was This Fire So Hard to Control?
Fire chiefs described the operation as one of the toughest in recent years. The combination of high temperatures, falling debris, and compromised scaffolding made it impossible for crews to reach some upper floors quickly.
Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of Fire Service operations, said teams faced extreme physical barriers inside the burning towers.“The temperature inside the buildings is extremely high. It is difficult for us to enter and move upstairs for firefighting and rescue,” he explained.
More than 140 fire trucks and 60 ambulances were deployed, but even with such a massive response, pockets of fire continued to burn into early Thursday.
Who Has Been Affected?
The blaze displaced hundreds of residents. Tai Po district authorities have opened temporary shelters for families who lost their homes or were evacuated in the chaos.
Hospitals reported 29 injured survivors, with seven in critical condition. Emergency rooms remained crowded through Wednesday night as victims were brought in from smoke-choked stairwells and damaged flats.
Among the dead was a firefighter, a loss acknowledged publicly by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who extended condolences to the families and urged that “every effort be made to minimise casualties and losses.”
What Do We Know About the Investigation?
Authorities have formed a joint investigation unit involving police and the Fire Services Department. Chief Executive John Lee confirmed the probe, saying investigators will examine structural factors, emergency access limitations, and the role of the scaffolding that first caught fire.
Authorities have not identified the cause of the fire yet. Initial evaluations point to a mix of wind, outer construction materials, and the dense structure of the building, all of which may have accelerated the spread in a residential setting.
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Why Does This Incident Matter Beyond Hong Kong?
The disaster highlights the vulnerability of ageing high-rise clusters common across many Asian cities.The incident also highlights concerns about safety standards and emergency planning in densely packed estates, where scaffolding, building materials, and limited space can quickly transform a small ignition into a fatal event.
