A fire broke out in Hong Kong’s Tai Po area. At least 44 people have been confirmed dead, and 279 others are still missing. The fire ripped through the Wang Fuk Court housing estate on Wednesday (26th November), turning a routine day into one of the city’s worst tragedies in recent years.
The flames spread quickly through bamboo scaffolding surrounding the buildings, making it extremely difficult for the residents to escape. The Fire Services Department said that about 100 people were injured in the fire and were admitted to various district hospitals. 45 of them reportedly sustained serious injuries.
How the fire started and spread quickly
The chain of events began at 2:51 pm on Wednesday of the 26th of November. In a matter of minutes, thick black smoke billowed over the estate as the fire spread from one flat to several blocks. Seven out of the eight residential towers in Wang Fuk Court caught fire.
Calls about the emergency poured in, as several people called to report that their family members were trapped inside the burning building. Police later confirmed that a man and a woman were found unconscious, suffering from severe burns.
Three men arrested for manslaughter after NIGHTMARE Hong Kong fire
At least 40 people now dead, nearly 300 missing
City officials still haven’t commented on the cause of the blaze https://t.co/YoP9MNDj5k pic.twitter.com/CqdsJyZJMO
— RT (@RT_com) November 26, 2025
Fire Services initially classified it as a “No. 1 alarm” fire, the lowest level. But as the situation escalated, it quickly rose to No. 4 by 3:34 pm and reached the highest level, No. 5 at 6:22 pm. Hong Kong uses a five-tier system in which Level 5 is reserved for the most severe fires.
Scaffolding materials under scrutiny
Footage from the scene showed bamboo scaffolding and green netting outside many flats catching fire instantly and falling to the ground in burning pieces. These scaffolds are commonly used for construction and renovations in Hong Kong.
Police and fire officials later said that several materials used around the building might not have met fire safety standards. Floors in the building had protective nets, waterproof tarpaulin and plastic cloth, all of which may have fueled the blaze. Styrofoam was reportedly used to seal windows on every floor, which could have caused the fire to spread even faster through the corridors and flats.
A massive blaze engulfed several residential towers in Hong Kong's Tai Po district, leaving more than a dozen dead as emergency crews struggled to rescue unknown numbers of trapped residents amid intense heat and spreading flames https://t.co/HYxGqKfMyz pic.twitter.com/BVRjrooGqL
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 26, 2025
During overnight raids, police arrested two directors and an engineering consultant linked to the construction company responsible for the scaffolding. Officers believe the company may have been “grossly negligent,” leading to the rapid spread of the fire and the high number of casualties.
Firefighting efforts continue into the morning
Thick smoke was still billowing out of the buildings even as dawn broke on Thursday, 27th November. Firefighters continued to battle the blaze with multiple high aerial ladders. This fire has been burning for over 15 hours straight.
Officials said that fires in four of the blocks were now under control, while crews were still working to douse flames in the other three. Rescue teams had started combing floors from the lower levels upwards to the 23rd. They were hoping to reach the topmost levels by evening, having deployed 26 teams.
#WATCH | China | A huge fire that broke out at a residential apartment complex in Hong Kong yesterday, which has claimed the lives of 44 people with 300 people still missing, continues to burn. According to the Police, the fire may have been spread by unsafe scaffolding and foam… pic.twitter.com/SeCC6O9QVM
— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2025
Volunteers at the site put the number of bodies removed by early morning at about 20, though so far, officials have confirmed 44 deaths.
Government response and national concern
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu visited the community and hospitals through the night and addressed the public early Thursday. He expressed grief over the tragedy and thanked the firefighters for their efforts.
Chinese President Xi Jinping also stated condolences late Wednesday (26th November), calling for “all-out efforts” to minimise casualties and support affected families. Several neighbouring cities have offered assistance to Hong Kong.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan, who was in Milan for a symposium, held a moment of silence before announcing that he would cut short his trip and return immediately.
Election plans in question
The government has paused all publicity for the upcoming Legislative Council election scheduled for 7th December. When asked whether the election might be postponed, Chief Executive Lee said the administration’s complete focus right now is on the disaster and its aftermath. A decision on other matters will be made “in a few days.”
Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung says 888 firefighters are at the scene battling the blaze, stressing that there is sufficient manpower at present.
He says that, given the floor area is not large, the department has already deployed the maximum number of firefighters that the space can safely accommodate.
The firefighters are now working to extinguish the blaze and rescue victims as they gradually move up the building to continue their mission, he says.
“We are making progress and hope we can clear each floor as soon as possible,” he added.
