Hong Kong: The death toll in the catastrophic high-rise fire that swept through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has risen to 44, making it one of the deadliest residential disasters in the city’s modern history. As firefighters continued to battle stubborn pockets of flames across multiple blocks, authorities announced the arrest of three individuals linked to the ongoing renovation of the complex.
According to officials, the blaze erupted on Wednesday afternoon and spread with alarming speed across the cluster of residential towers. Wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and covered with flammable construction mesh, the buildings acted as fuel for the inferno, allowing flames to race up the exterior walls and leap between blocks. Fire crews managed to bring four of the eight affected towers under control, but intense heat and thick smoke hampered efforts to reach trapped residents in the remaining structures.
Police confirmed on Thursday that they had arrested two directors from the renovation contractor and an engineering consultant on suspicion of manslaughter. Investigators believe that unsafe materials including combustible foam installed around window frames and potential breaches of construction safety laws contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Authorities described the external setup of the buildings as a “fire trap,” raising serious questions about oversight and regulatory enforcement.
More than 900 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters as emergency teams work to locate the nearly 300 people still unaccounted for. Survivors have recounted scenes of panic and confusion, with smoke-choked hallways, blazing facades, and residents many of them elderly struggling to escape. The disaster has quickly drawn comparisons to major international incidents like the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, underscoring global concerns about combustible building materials and renovation practices.
Officials say this fire has now surpassed the 1996 Garley Building blaze, which killed 41 people, becoming the city’s worst fire since World War II. Public anger is mounting as communities demand accountability from contractors, regulators, and the government. The arrests mark the beginning of what is expected to be a far-reaching investigation into construction safety standards and the widespread use of traditional bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong’s urban renewal projects.
As the fire continues to smolder and rescue operations enter a critical phase, Hong Kong is grappling with a tragedy that has left families shattered, neighborhoods displaced, and deep questions about the city’s safety protocols. Authorities have pledged full transparency and swift action to ensure that such a disaster is never repeated.