Hong Kong High-Rise Fire Leaves 44 Dead, Hundreds Missing As Search Intensifies
A fire swept through the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Tai Po on Wednesday afternoon. It killed at least 44 people. Almost 280 people are still missing. Hundreds more have been moved to temporary shelters.
The fire began on the external scaffolding of one tower. It then spread inside the building. Strong wind pushed the flames toward nearby towers. Each tower is 32 storeys high. The eight-tower complex holds about 2,000 flats. Renovation work was under way when the fire started.
A column of thick smoke rose as bamboo scaffolding caught fire. Crews said the heat was intense. They struggled to reach upper floors. Flames burned the netting wrapped around the towers. Fire chiefs said debris kept falling. They deployed more than 200 fire vehicles and about 100 ambulances. The fire reached a level 5 alarm after nightfall.
Work to bring the fire under control continued into early Thursday. Some flats were still burning at daybreak. Twenty-six rescue teams searched lower floors. Crews contacted some of the people first listed as missing.
Police arrested three men aged 52 to 68. They face suspicion of manslaughter. A taskforce will work on the cause of the blaze.
More than 900 residents have taken shelter in nearby centres. Many arrived through the night to report missing relatives. One firefighter, aged 37, died after losing contact with his team. Crews found him with burns on his face.
Residents described scenes of fear and confusion. Some said they saw the blaze jump from one building to the next. Many older residents used wheelchairs or walkers and struggled to escape. Others said they did not hear the alarm because windows were shut during renovation work.
A 25-year-old resident said she watched the flames spread from one tower to four. A 65-year-old man said he and his wife lost their home. A 71-year-old man said his wife was trapped inside. People gathered on the ground watched smoke rise through the night.
The government closed a long section of Tai Po Road. Traffic slowed across the district. At least six schools closed on Thursday.
China’s leader Xi Jinping called for full effort to control the fire and reduce further loss. He sent condolences to families.
Hong Kong plans to phase out bamboo scaffolding. The change began in March after 22 deaths involving scaffolders between 2019 and 2024. Half of all public projects must now use metal frames.
Firefighters continued to douse hotspots on Thursday morning. Crews expect long work ahead before the site is safe.
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