Hong Kong’s Tai Po Inferno claims 44 lives; 279 people remain unaccounted for; 45 in critical condition
Emergency teams have been battling the blaze for hours, often in perilous conditions, as the fire continued burning into the early hours of Thursday. Live footage showed flames bursting through windows and climbing up the exterior scaffolding, illuminating the night sky.
- A City in Smoke: Tai Po Towers burn as families wait for news
- Wang Fuk Court turns to ashes as Hong Kong counts its losses
- Several people hospitalized, 45 in critical condition
- 3 employees from the company working on the apartments have been arrested. Police say highly flammable material was found near the windows of one of the buildings.
A towering inferno in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has claimed at least 44 lives and left hundreds unaccounted for, after a massive blaze swept through several high-rise residential towers at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate.
The fire, one of the deadliest in the city’s recent history, erupted on Wednesday afternoon and quickly escalated, engulfing multiple buildings and sending thick smoke billowing across the skyline. Authorities confirmed that 279 people remain unaccounted for, raising fears that the death toll could rise significantly.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, said hundreds were hospitalized, including 45 in critical condition. Emergency teams have been battling the blaze for hours, often in perilous conditions, as the fire continued burning into the early hours of Thursday. Live footage showed flames bursting through windows and climbing up the exterior scaffolding, illuminating the night sky.
Fire Services officials said they received the first report of the blaze at 2:51 p.m., and within 40 minutes upgraded it to a Number 4 alarm, signaling severe danger. As the fire intensified and spread across several towers, it was elevated to the highest five-alarm classification. In total, 128 fire engines and 57 ambulances were deployed, making it one of the largest emergency responses in recent years.
Reports said, three employees from the company working on the apartments have been arrested. Police say highly flammable material was found near the windows of one of the buildings.
Deputy Director of Fire Services Derek Armstrong Chan described the operation as extremely challenging, citing falling debris, collapsing bamboo scaffolding, and intense heat inside the towers. “The temperature inside the buildings is very high,” he said. “It’s difficult for us to enter and move upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations.”
The presence of dense bamboo scaffolding and green construction netting—installed for ongoing renovations—appeared to act as fuel, allowing the flames to spread rapidly from one building to another, according to dw.com
Local media reported that an unknown number of residents, including many elderly occupants, were believed to be trapped inside the 31-storey towers, which together contain around 2,000 apartments. Taipo District Council member Lo Hiu-fung told local broadcaster TVB that many of those stranded were older residents unable to evacuate quickly. Renovation work in several blocks may have further complicated escape routes and obstructed firefighters’ access.
As night fell, towering plumes of smoke continued to rise above the estate, while flames remained visible on multiple floors. The Fire Services Department issued urgent warnings to nearby residents, urging them to stay indoors, close windows, and remain calm. Authorities also shut down parts of a nearby highway to facilitate firefighting efforts and protect the public from falling debris.
The disaster has shaken Tai Po, a suburban district near the border with Shenzhen, and raised serious questions about fire safety during high-rise renovations. With hundreds still missing and firefighters struggling to contain the blaze, the city remains on high alert as emergency crews continue their search and rescue operations.
Fact line
Densely populated Hong Kong vulnerable to urban disasters; is among the most densely populated places in the world. The financial hub is known for its skyline of sky scrapers around a harbor
- Some 7.5 million people live in the city
- Hong Kong’s population density is over 7,100 people per square kilometer of land, making it similar to cities like Tokyo
- Hong Kong is home to some 569 buildings that are 150 meters high or taller, making it the city with the most skyscrapers in the world, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat,
- Its growing population spurred a construction boom that saw high-rise apartment blocks spring up
- Many of these new residential complexes have been built in the New Territories, where Tai Po is located
- The green construction mesh and bamboo scaffolding covering the Wang Fuk Court buildings are a staple of traditional Chinese architecture
- The scaffolding have been subject to a phase-out in Hong Kong since March due to safety concerns
