Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court Fire Kills 94 in Tai Po

HONG KONG — November 28, 2025:
A devastating blaze at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po has become one of Hong Kong’s deadliest fires in eight decades, leaving at least 94 people dead and more than 70 injured. The fire, which erupted on Wednesday, November 26, spread through the estate with extraordinary speed, overwhelming emergency services and triggering a citywide reckoning over building safety standards.

Located in the New Territories near the border with mainland China, Wang Fuk Court is a large subsidized housing estate built in the 1980s. The complex consists of eight 32-story residential towers. What began as a fire in one tower quickly grew into a catastrophe that engulfed seven of the eight buildings.

Fire Spread Across Seven Towers in Minutes

Authorities say the blaze started in one of the estate’s towers shortly after 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Within minutes, smoke and flames shot up the scaffolding surrounding the building under renovation. The bamboo scaffolding and plastic foam panels used for exterior repairs acted as fuel, causing the fire to jump from one structure to another.

Residents reported hearing several loud bursts — likely structural collapses — as the fire tore up the building façades. Video shared by witnesses showed towering flames climbing external walls and thick smoke blanketing the estate and surrounding Tai Po neighborhoods.

The fire’s rapid expansion left hundreds of residents trapped inside their homes or sheltering in corridors as temperatures soared.

Over 1,000 Firefighters Battled for More Than 24 Hours

Fire Services Department officials confirmed that more than 1,000 firefighters were deployed. Many teams rotated through the night as the fire continued to burn across multiple towers. Heavy smoke and extreme heat complicated rescue operations.

By Thursday evening, authorities had evacuated over 900 residents to temporary shelters set up at nearby schools and community centers. Dozens of others were rescued from balconies and rooftops using aerial ladders.

Firefighters finally gained control early Friday morning, nearly 24 hours after the first alarm. Search-and-rescue teams continued to enter damaged units to look for survivors and recover victims.

Aging Buildings Without Modern Safety Features

Investigators say the blaze exposed critical weaknesses in the estate’s fire protection systems. Built in the early 1980s, Wang Fuk Court lacks several safety features now required in modern high-rise buildings.

Missing safeguards include:

• Centralized smoke detectors
• Sprinkler systems
• Fire refuge floors
• Fire-resistant façade materials
• Upgraded escape stairwells

Experts note that older housing blocks across Hong Kong were constructed under outdated fire codes that did not anticipate today’s renovation practices or the risks posed by combustible external materials.

Residents said they had long requested building upgrades, but repairs and improvements were delayed for years due to budget limitations and administrative backlogs.

Renovation Materials Blamed for the Rapid Spread

Authorities quickly identified the bamboo scaffolding, widely used in Hong Kong’s construction industry, as a major factor in the fire’s speed and intensity. Combined with low-grade plastic foam insulation panels, which lined parts of the façades during renovation, the scaffolding created a fast-burning vertical path for flames.

Early findings suggest:

• The foam panels did not meet fire-resistance standards.
• Contractors may have used materials not approved under the renovation permit.
• Safety netting meant to protect passersby may have contributed to fire spread.

These points became central to the investigation within hours of the incident.

Three Men Arrested on Suspicion of Manslaughter

Hong Kong Police announced the arrest of three men linked to Prestige Construction & Engineering Co., the company responsible for the renovation project.

The men — a site manager, a contractor, and the company director — were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter due to gross negligence. Police allege:

• The company used non-compliant materials
• Safety protocols were not followed
• The fire risk assessment was incomplete
• Workers failed to maintain secure fire barriers during renovation

Investigators are also examining whether the company falsified compliance documents.

Hong Kong Leader Orders Citywide Safety Inspections

Chief Executive John Lee called the incident “one of the darkest days in Hong Kong’s modern history” and announced the formation of a high-level task force to investigate systemic issues behind the disaster.

The government ordered immediate safety inspections for all public and private housing estates currently undergoing major repairs. Many estates built before the 1990s still rely on outdated construction methods and may use older materials that do not meet modern safety codes.

Authorities say the city must now decide whether to overhaul aging housing blocks or accelerate redevelopment programs.

Worst Fire Since the 1996 Garley Building Tragedy

With at least 94 confirmed deaths, the Wang Fuk Court fire ranks among the most severe disasters in Hong Kong since the 1996 Garley Building fire, which killed 41 people. The scale of destruction has shocked a city known for strict building regulations and advanced urban planning.

Residents have called for transparent investigations and timely updates. Dozens gathered outside government offices demanding accountability from construction companies and regulatory agencies.

For many survivors, the loss is overwhelming. Some lost entire families. Others returned only to find their homes destroyed and belongings reduced to ash.

Recovery, officials say, will take months — and rebuilding trust may take even longer.