A massive fire has torn through a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong, leaving at least 36 people dead and 279 others reported missing, in the city's deadliest blaze for years.
The inferno broke out at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in the Tai Po district on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, at 2.51 pm local time. It rapidly spread across bamboo scaffolding and construction netting surrounding the 31-storey towers.
A Race Against Time and Flames
Hong Kong leader John Lee confirmed the scale of the tragedy, noting that 29 people remain in hospital. He stated that the fire was "coming under control" shortly after midnight. The blaze was so severe that it was upgraded to a level 5 alarm, the highest severity level.
Fire chiefs reported that intense high temperatures created significant challenges for rescue crews attempting to mount operations. Tragically, one firefighter was confirmed among the dead, with a number of others injured while battling the flames.
Mass Evacuation and Historical Context
Approximately 900 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters following the disaster. The Wang Fuk Court site, built in the 1980s, consists of eight blocks containing nearly 2,000 apartments housing around 4,800 residents, many of whom are elderly. The complex was undergoing major renovations at the time.
This is the most lethal fire in Hong Kong since a 1996 blaze in a Kowloon commercial building claimed 41 lives. That incident led to sweeping updates to the city's building standards and fire safety regulations.
Official Response and Investigation
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his condolences for the firefighter who died and extended sympathies to the families of all victims. He urged an "all-out" effort to minimise casualties and losses.
While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, officials confirmed it began on the external scaffolding of one building before spreading inside and to nearby structures, likely aided by windy conditions. The Hong Kong government had previously announced plans to phase out bamboo scaffolding on public projects due to safety concerns.
