Hong Kong: The inferno that tore through a high-rise housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has not only left dozens dead and hundreds unaccounted for it has also ignited a wave of emotion, questions, and international concern as the fire continued burning for nearly 16 hours.
On mainland China’s heavily monitored platform Weibo often compared to X discussions about the Hong Kong blaze have surged past one billion views. Users have expressed heartbreak, anger, and confusion over how such a devastating disaster could occur in one of Asia’s most advanced cities.
“Oh my, seeing the death toll really makes me want to cry,” wrote one user in a post that attracted more than 2,000 likes. Another lamented the destruction so close to the Chinese New Year: “In a city where land is as valuable as gold, so many people have lost everything overnight. Were corners cut? How could a fire of this scale even happen?”
A separate post with hundreds of likes captured the prevailing fear: “It’s heartbreaking to hear that 44 people are already dead and more than 200 are missing. I pray the numbers don’t rise.”
Despite the outpouring, observers noted that China’s strict online censorship could lead to many critical posts being swiftly removed if deemed sensitive.
Across the strait, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te expressed solidarity and sympathy. Writing on X on Thursday morning, he urged people to join in prayer for Hong Kong.
“I extend my deepest condolences to all the Hong Kong friends who died in this disaster and their families,” Lai said, adding that he hopes the missing will be found safely. His message underscored the rare moment of shared humanity amid cross-strait political tensions.
As the flames ravaged multiple towers, international fire experts raised alarms over the integrity of the remaining structures. Dave Downey, former chief of Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue, told CNN that the prolonged, high-temperature blaze poses a severe risk.
“This fire has been intense and has attacked the structure directly,” Downey said. “Even reinforced concrete has its limits. A collapse is a real concern.”
He described the interior conditions as “like an oven,” with temperatures climbing higher on upper floors. Residents had been instructed to seal themselves inside with wet cloths to block smoke a difficult situation that Downey said left civilians with “no chance” of escape without professional gear.
He compared the disaster to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London and the 2015 Dubai hotel blaze, warning that any combustible material on the building’s exterior would have allowed flames to spread with terrifying speed.
At the scene on Thursday morning, 65-year-old resident Mr. Ho stood wrapped in a shelter-provided towel, watching firefighters continue their battle. A resident of Block 1, he fled with nothing when the alarms rang and flames erupted in neighboring Block 6.
“In half an hour, Block 5, Block 7, then Block 4 and finally Block 1 all caught fire,” he recalled. He fears his 11th-floor home is now destroyed and worries deeply for those who could not escape. “I don’t doubt many elderly people, cats, and dogs are still inside.”
By Thursday morning, crews had been fighting the blaze for roughly 16 hours. The Fire Services Department reported that four of the seven affected blocks were “under control,” but flames continued to burn fiercely in the remaining three.
Firefighters continued attacking hotspots from multiple angles, as rescue teams searched for survivors and officials prepared for what is likely to be a steadily rising death toll.
The unfolding tragedy has triggered grief across borders, urgent safety questions at home, and a growing global spotlight on one of Hong Kong’s worst residential fires in decades.