A huge fire is still burning in a Hong Kong apartment complex, killing at least 44 people and leaving nearly 300 missing, police said on Thursday. Officers believe the fire spread quickly because of unsafe scaffolding, plastic sheets, and foam materials used during building repairs.
Firefighters worked all night but had difficulty reaching people trapped on the upper floors because of the extreme heat and heavy smoke. The fire started on Wednesday afternoon in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Tai Po, a crowded area in northern Hong Kong.
The complex has 2,000 flats in eight buildings, housing more than 4,600 residents. By Thursday morning, firefighters had brought the fire under control in four buildings but were still fighting flames in three others.
Videos showed tall flames coming from two 32-storey buildings covered in bamboo scaffolding and green construction mesh.
Police said some windows in one building were sealed with foam material that did not meet fire safety standards. They believe the construction company doing the renovation work was negligent, causing the fire to spread so fast. Three company members—two directors and an engineering consultant—have been arrested for manslaughter.
Bamboo scaffolding and green mesh are traditional in Hong Kong but have been phased out since March because of safety issues.
One firefighter is among the dead. Another 45 people are in critical condition in hospitals. Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, said the top priority is rescuing trapped residents, caring for the injured, and launching a full investigation.
As of Thursday, 279 people were still uncontactable, and 900 residents were staying in temporary shelters. The death toll is now the highest in a Hong Kong fire since 1948, when 176 people died.
Searching for Loved Ones
The fire has reminded many of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, which killed 72 people due to unsafe cladding.
Families searched desperately at shelters for missing relatives. A woman named Ng, 52, cried as she looked for her daughter and husband. Another resident, Harry Cheung, 66, said he heard a loud noise and saw flames, then quickly packed his belongings before escaping. Others still had no contact with friends or family.
Online apps and Google documents were filled with missing persons reports, though this information could not be independently verified.
Anger and Criticism
Many residents criticized what they described as careless construction work and cost-cutting measures. Videos online showed construction workers smoking on the scaffolding during repairs.
From mainland China, President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out efforts” to fight the fire and reduce casualties.
Roads around the area remained closed, 39 bus routes were diverted, and at least six schools were shut due to the fire and heavy traffic.
The government began phasing out bamboo scaffolding earlier this year after 22 scaffold-related deaths between 2019 and 2024. Although fire risk wasn’t mentioned as a reason, at least three fires involving bamboo scaffolding have happened this year.
About the Housing Complex
Hong Kong’s high housing prices have long caused frustration, and this disaster may worsen public anger ahead of elections in December.
Wang Fuk Court, built in 1983, is part of a government-subsidised homeownership scheme. The buildings have been undergoing HK$330 million (US $42 million) renovations for a year, with each flat paying around HK$160,000–180,000 for the work.
