Death Toll Rises as Massive Hong Kong Fire Ravages Residential Towers (Source: X/ @theeyessource)
The number of people killed in the huge fire that tore through several residential towers in Hong Kong has risen to 44. Another 45 people are in critical condition, and authorities say hundreds are still missing, making the situation extremely alarming.
The blaze started on Wednesday afternoon at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, located in the northern New Territories. The complex includes eight towers, each 31 floors high, with around 2,000 flats and nearly 4,800 residents.
A taskforce has been set up to find out what caused the tragedy.
Authorities announced early Thursday that three men aged 52 to 68 had been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the fire.
Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, said soon after midnight that the fire was “coming under control”. The incident was declared a five-alarm fire, the highest emergency level in the city. More than 128 fire engines and nearly 800 firefighters were deployed. Several key roads and highways near the towers were shut down for safety.
Lee outlined the government’s immediate priorities, “The priority is to extinguish the fire and rescue the residents who are trapped. The second is to support the injured. The third is to support and recover. Then, we’ll launch a thorough investigation.”
Fire crews struggled to reach upper floors because of the extreme heat. Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of fire services operations, said, “The temperature inside the buildings concerned is very high. It’s difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations.”
Among the dead was a 37-year-old firefighter, Ho Wai-ho, who died while trying to save residents.
Video footage from the area showed flames racing up the towers and bursting out of windows floor by floor. Shocked residents stood on pavements nearby, many crying as smoke rose from the burning complex.
A local resident with the surname So told AFP, “There’s nothing that can be done about the property. We can only hope that everyone, no matter old or young, can return safely. It’s heartbreaking. We’re worried there are people trapped inside.”
Another resident, Harry Cheung, 66, who has lived in Block 2 for more than 40 years, said he heard a loud noise around 2.45pm. He saw flames shooting up a nearby block and told Reuters, “I immediately went back to pack up my things. I don’t even know how I feel right now. I’m just thinking about where I’m going to sleep tonight because I probably won’t be able to go back home.”
A 71-year-old resident named Wong wept as he revealed that his wife remained trapped in the building.
Wang Fuk Court’s towers are among the tallest in Tai Po, one of the most densely populated areas in Hong Kong. Data from the 2021 census reported by CNN shows that many of its residents are elderly, increasing the risk during emergencies.
Authorities said all departments were working together to manage rescue and support efforts. China’s president, Xi Jinping, also expressed condolences, according to state media.
Officials believe the fire may have started in the bamboo and mesh scaffolding surrounding the towers for renovation work. The flames likely spread inside the buildings soon afterward, though the exact cause is still unknown.
Hong Kong is known for strict building standards, which have improved greatly in recent decades. However, a local advocacy group, the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, said it is worried about fires involving scaffolding. Similar incidents were reported in April, May, and October this year.
The disaster comes at a politically sensitive time. Hong Kong has long struggled with soaring property prices, which often fuel public frustration. The fire may intensify anger towards authorities ahead of the Legislative Council elections on 7 December. Some election events scheduled for the coming days have already been cancelled.
Temporary shelters have been opened in local community halls in Tai Po. According to local reports, at least one shelter was already full by Wednesday night. Police have also created a casualty hotline for missing-person reports.
This fire is Hong Kong’s most deadly in many years. The last major tragedy of similar scale occurred in November 1996, when a commercial building fire in Kowloon killed 41 people and burned for almost 20 hours.
Also Read: Hong Kong Counts 36 Lives Lost After Deadly High-Rise Fire | What We Know so Far
