The Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po left at least 94 dead and hundreds missing after flames raced up bamboo scaffolding and spread through seven of eight residential blocks. Authorities reported about 70 injured, roughly 900 evacuated, and deployed over 140 fire engines and 60 ambulances. Three men from a construction firm were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after highly flammable materials were found near elevator lobbies. Investigations are ongoing into the blaze's cause, the role of renovation materials and possible negligence.
94 Dead in Hong Kong High‑Rise Inferno; Three Construction Officials Arrested
At least 94 people have died and hundreds are unaccounted for after a deadly fire swept through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong. Authorities have arrested three men from a construction company on suspicion of manslaughter after investigators discovered highly flammable materials on the buildings' exteriors.
The blaze began on Wednesday afternoon and spread across seven of the complex's eight blocks. Firefighters said the flames climbed bamboo scaffolding that had been erected around a 32‑storey tower, then moved into the building and to neighboring blocks, with windy conditions likely accelerating the spread.
Officials reported at least 70 injured, including 11 firefighters, and around 900 people evacuated overnight to temporary shelters. More than 140 fire engines and upwards of 60 ambulances were dispatched to the scene, as crews worked through the night to control hotspots and begin systematic search and rescue operations.
Fire Services Department Director Andy Yeung confirmed one of the victims was a 37‑year‑old firefighter who had served for nine years, noting that colleagues were deeply saddened by the loss of a devoted comrade.
Deputy Director Derek Armstrong Chan said the firefighting phase was largely complete and that teams were focusing on preventing re‑ignition of debris and conducting thorough searches of remaining apartments. Rescuers were seen moving apartment to apartment with flashlights amid pockets of smoke and occasional visible flames.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said contact had been lost with 279 people early on Thursday, though officials later cautioned that an accurate accounting of missing residents was still being assembled. Authorities have not provided a final figure for those still trapped inside the damaged blocks.
Police reported finding highly flammable foam materials outside elevator lobbies on each floor of one tower that was otherwise less affected. Senior Superintendent Eileen Chung said investigators have reason to believe those responsible at the construction company were grossly negligent. The three men arrested — two company directors and an engineering consultant, aged between 52 and 68 — are being held on suspicion of manslaughter as inquiries continue.
Investigators also raised concerns that some exterior cladding or other façade materials may not have met fire resistance standards, which could help explain how the blaze spread so rapidly. The complex, built in the 1980s, had been undergoing a major renovation in recent months.
Tai Po is a densely populated suburban district near Hong Kong's border with Shenzhen. Officials said the fire is the deadliest in Hong Kong in decades; by comparison, a level‑5 fire in Kowloon in November 1996 killed 41 people after burning for roughly 20 hours.
Search, rescue and forensic investigations are ongoing. Authorities have urged local residents to stay away from the affected area and follow official instructions. Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
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