Hong Kong firefighters were still battling a massive blaze on Thursday after a deadly fire tore through a high-rise housing estate, killing at least 44 people and leaving hundreds unaccounted for. The disaster — the financial hub’s worst fire in decades — erupted suddenly on Wednesday afternoon and rapidly engulfed parts of the densely built Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po.
The fire is believed to have started around 2:50pm at the eight-block estate, which contains nearly 2,000 units across 32-storey towers. The cause remains under investigation, but the buildings were undergoing repairs and wrapped in bamboo scaffolding — a traditional yet highly flammable material still widely used in Hong Kong. Authorities had previously warned about the risks after a similar blaze escalated last October. Despite plans to transition to fire-resistant steel, Wang Fuk Court was still encased in bamboo.
By early Thursday, police had arrested three men, alleging that flammable substances left behind during maintenance work allowed the fire “to spread rapidly beyond control”. When AFP journalists arrived at daybreak, several flats were still burning. Witnesses described the sound of collapsing bamboo and thick smoke drifting between towers as fiery debris rained down.
A 65-year-old resident surnamed Yuen, who has lived in the estate for more than 40 years, said many elderly neighbours were unaware of the threat. “The windows were sealed for maintenance. Some didn’t know there was a fire and only evacuated after neighbours called to warn them,” Yuen said. “I’m devastated.”
Deputy fire services director Derek Armstrong Chan said strong winds and falling debris likely drove the flames from block to block. “Temperatures are extremely high, and some floors remain inaccessible despite calls for help. We will keep trying,” he said.
Casualties rise as chaos unfolds
By Thursday morning, authorities confirmed 44 deaths, including a 37-year-old firefighter who was found with severe burns after losing contact with his team for about 30 minutes, fire services chief Andy Yeung said.
Chief Executive John Lee initially said 279 people were missing, though firefighters later managed to reach some of them. More than 900 residents sought refuge in temporary shelters, where police struggled to compile an accurate list of the missing as distraught families continued to arrive overnight.
At the estate, danger remained evident as scorched scaffolding collapsed, flames shot from windows, and an orange glow lit surrounding buildings. Residents were evacuated in buses, while nearby blocks were cleared and sections of a major highway were closed for the firefighting operation.
Voices from the scene
A 57-year-old Tai Po resident surnamed So watched the devastation unfold. “There’s nothing to be done about the property. We can only hope everyone, young or old, comes back safely,” he said.
Another resident, an apartment owner in his 40s, said he was too anxious to leave. “The fire isn’t under control. I don’t dare go, and I don’t know what I can do,” he said.
Chief Executive Lee said he was “deeply saddened” and pledged full support from government departments.
Hong Kong, once prone to deadly fires in overcrowded neighbourhoods, has seen significant safety improvements in recent decades. But the ferocity of Wednesday’s blaze has renewed concerns over construction practices, ageing infrastructure and the continued use of bamboo scaffolding in dense urban environments.
