At least 65 people were killed and about 300 are still missing after Hong Kong’s deadliest building fire in more than seven decades, as the death toll continued to rise on Wednesday. So far, three people from the construction company have been arrested.
Police said the inferno may have been caused by the use of hazardous materials by a “grossly negligent” construction firm.
The fire is believed to have started in bamboo scaffolding and construction mesh before spreading to other buildings in the complex.
Where did the fire occur?
The fire broke out in the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in the northern district of Tai Po. It is one of the many high-rise apartment complexes in Hong Kong. Eight blocks of the densely packed complex, in which over 4,600 people live, have 2,000 apartments.
According to real estate agency websites, the complex, which has been occupied since 1983, is under the government’s subsidized home ownership scheme, Reuters reported.
Thick smoke billows from the upper floors of an apartment block in the Wang Fuk Court housing estate during a major fire.(REUTERS)Read also | Inside Hong Kong’s deadly tower block fire: ‘It was terrifying…’ residents say
What caused the fire?
According to the police, they believe that the responsible persons of the construction company who were carrying out the maintenance work were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and the fire spread uncontrollably.
“We have reason to believe that the responsible parties of the company were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in large casualties,” said Eileen Chung, a Hong Kong police inspector.
Police said the buildings were covered with protective netting and plastic that may not meet fire standards.
According to a Reuters report, police also found that some windows on one unaffected building had been sealed with foam material installed by a construction company doing maintenance work.
Firefighters work to put out a fire that broke out Wednesday at Wang Fuk Court, a residential complex in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong’s New Territories.(AP)Read also | Tencent, Xiaomi, others pledge millions after deadly fire, Xi’s plea
Who was arrested?
Three men from the construction company – two directors and one engineering consultant – have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over the fire.
Rescue is a priority
Hong Kong leader John Lee said about 279 people were uncontactable and 900 were in eight shelters.
Lee said the priority is to put out the fire and rescue the residents who are trapped.
“The second is support for the injured. The third is support and recovery. After that, we will start a thorough investigation,” he added.
The government will establish a fund
John Lee said the government would set up a HK$300 million ($38.6 million) fund to help residents.
The Urban Development Authority also discussed the gradual replacement of bamboo scaffolding as a safety measure.
Xi urges ‘maximum effort’
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “maximum efforts” to put out the fire and minimize losses and casualties, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
All burned, nothing left
A 51-year-old resident surnamed Wan told Reuters they bought (an apartment) this building more than 20 years ago and now there is nothing left.
“All of our things were in this building, and now that it’s all burned down like this, what’s left?”
Residents affected by a fire at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex rest in a temporary shelter in Tai Po district, Hong Kong, China, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (Bloomberg)
Relief pours in
Meanwhile, carmakers Xiaomi, Xpeng and Geely, as well as Alibaba founder Jack Ma’s charitable foundation, among other Chinese companies and groups, have announced donations to fire victims.
