Tai Po, Hong Kong – At least 55 people have died after a massive fire tore through the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Hong Kong, leaving dozens more missing and displacing hundreds. The blaze began Wednesday afternoon in one of the 32-story towers and quickly spread to six others, making it the deadliest high-rise fire in the city in more than six decades.
Firefighters battled the inferno for more than 24 hours, with more than 1,200 personnel deployed. Collapsing bamboo scaffolding and extreme heat hindered rescue efforts, as water from fire truck ladders could reach only midway up the towers. Authorities declared the fire under control by Friday morning, though search operations continued for trapped residents.
Police arrested two directors and a consultant from Prestige Construction and Engineering Company on suspicion of manslaughter, citing “gross negligence” in using flammable materials such as foam boards and protective netting on the building exteriors. Investigators said the rapid spread may have been worsened by bamboo scaffolding covering the towers during ongoing renovations.
Many survivors described narrow escapes, reporting that no alarms or warnings were issued before the flames engulfed their homes. Some residents spotted the fire by chance through small gaps in foam coverings on windows.
The government opened temporary shelters nearby, where family members of missing residents gathered, searching for loved ones. Volunteers in Tai Po distributed food, water, blankets, and clothing, while small businesses offered their premises as collection points for donations.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee visited the site and announced a 300 million Hong Kong dollar fund to support victims. The city also launched inspections of other housing estates under renovation and established a task force to investigate potential corruption related to the construction work.
Officials warned that building materials used in renovations may not have met safety standards, with protective netting and sheeting suspected of accelerating the fire’s spread. Experts noted that the blaze bore similarities to the Grenfell Tower fire in London, where combustible exterior materials allowed flames to climb multiple stories rapidly.
Discussion about this post