Tai Po: A catastrophic fire tore through the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in the Tai Po District on Wednesday afternoon, killing at least 55 people and leaving nearly 300 missing — in what authorities describe as the deadliest residential blaze the city has seen in decades.
How it unfolded
According to officials, the fire broke out at around 2:51 p.m. local time on one of the 32-storey towers, when bamboo scaffolding surrounding the building — part of ongoing exterior renovation — caught fire. Within minutes, the blaze spread rapidly, aided by the scaffolding, plastic sheeting, and flammable exterior netting. By 3:34 p.m., it had escalated to a “level four” emergency; by 6:22 p.m., it reached “level five,” the highest alarm level in the city.
The inferno engulfed seven of the eight residential towers in the estate, home to roughly 4,600–4,800 people across nearly 2,000 apartments. Firefighters — some 767 personnel, supported by over 128 fire trucks and 57 ambulances — mounted a massive response.
Human toll and aftermath
Among the confirmed dead is a 37-year-old firefighter who died during rescue operations — underscoring the high human cost of the disaster. In addition, dozens are hospitalized, many critically, while hundreds remain unaccounted for as search and rescue continue into Thursday.
Authorities say the blaze has displaced over 900 residents, who are now being provided temporary shelter. Meanwhile, residents, some elderly, spoke of smoke choking their hallways and alarm systems — reportedly — failing to ring in many units, hinting at systemic failures in safety protocols.
Investigation underway: blame on negligence, flammable materials
A murder/suspected manslaughter probe has been launched. Police have already arrested three men — two directors of the renovation company and a consultant — on suspicion of gross negligence contributing to the disaster.
Early findings suggest that the building materials used in the renovation — including protective nets, polystyrene boards covering windows, and other flammable components — may have failed to meet fire-resistant standards, accelerating the spread of flames. The fact that the entire estate was wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and green netting for ongoing repair work appears to have turned what might have been a contained fire into a full-blown tragedy.
