A devastating fire at a major residential complex in Wang Fuk Court, located in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong, has left at least 44 people dead and nearly 300 others missing, as smoke continued to billow from several buildings while rescue operations pressed on.
The blaze erupted Wednesday afternoon and escalated rapidly — spanning multiple towers in what officials described as an “unusual” and extremely aggressive fire event. The 31-storey blocks, part of an eight-building estate undergoing renovations, were enveloped in bamboo scaffolding and protective netting, which authorities now suspect may have played a major role in the fire’s swift spread.
According to initial findings, materials used in the renovation — including foam sealing around windows and plastic sheeting on scaffolding — did not meet fire-resistance standards. Police and fire officials contend these non-compliant materials ignited and accelerated the conflagration. The external mesh, cloth netting and tarpaulin reportedly burned far more intensely and spread much faster than fire-safe materials should have.
Three individuals associated with the construction firm responsible for the maintenance work — two directors and an engineering consultant — have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, accused of gross negligence. Police hold them partly accountable for the use of unsafe materials and for failing to comply with building-safety standards.
The scale of the disaster is enormous. The complex housed nearly 5,000 residents; reports suggest around 900 have been evacuated to temporary shelters. Given the intensity of heat, the thickness of smoke and the danger of falling debris from collapsing scaffolding, firefighters and rescue teams are facing severe challenges while trying to reach people — many of whom are believed to be trapped on upper floors. Authorities said that parts of three buildings remained on fire even after more than ten hours, and search efforts were being conducted from lower floors while crews battled hot spots and structural hazards.
The leader of Hong Kong’s security, Chris Tang, described the blaze as “unusual,” pointing out that flames had caught hold of the building’s exterior — a rare occurrence under normal circumstances. One of the victims was a 37-year-old firefighter who died while on duty — an indicator of the severe risks faced by rescue personnel.
Internationally, the disaster has drawn comparisons to other high-rise infernos triggered by unsafe building practices. As public anger mounts, critics are already questioning decades-old construction norms — especially the widespread reliance on bamboo scaffolding and low-cost, flammable materials for maintenance work. Residents and civil-society groups are demanding stricter regulation and greater accountability as investigations get underway.
The tragedy at Wang Fuk Court stands as one of Hong Kong’s deadliest residential fires in decades. The full scale of human loss and suffering will only become clear once rescue crews finish their grim task of locating missing people.
