Hong Kong Reels From Deadly High-Rise Blaze
A catastrophic fire at a residential complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district has left the community in shock and mourning, with the death toll surpassing the city's previous worst building fire disaster. More than 24 hours after the first tower caught fire, the Wang Fuk Court complex was still burning, with firefighters struggling to contain the blaze.
Scale of the Disaster
The eight-tower Wang Fuk Court was home to approximately 4,800 residents. The complex had been under long-term renovation, shrouded in bamboo scaffolding and mesh. The fire began on Wednesday afternoon in one tower before spreading internally and to neighbouring buildings. By evening, seven of the eight towers were ablaze.
The confirmed death toll stands at at least 65 people, including one firefighter who lost his life in the rescue operation. Dozens more have been injured, with at least 55 people rescued and over 270 individuals still reported missing. Firefighters have been unable to reach the top levels of the 31-storey towers, although one elderly man was dramatically rescued from his high-level apartment earlier in the day.
Community Anger and Alleged Negligence
Survivors have expressed anger and frustration, particularly about the apparent failure of fire alarms. Connie Chu, a resident for 42 years, stated emphatically: "There should have been an alarm". She returned from grocery shopping to find massed fire trucks and was told to evacuate, despite hearing no alarm.
Hong Kong police suspect the fire was caused by "grossly negligent" action and have arrested three people from the construction company responsible for renovation work. Authorities have pointed to unsafe bamboo scaffolding and flammable foam materials as potential factors in the fire's rapid spread. The Independent Commission Against Corruption has already established a taskforce to investigate.
There have been long-running complaints about the renovation work, including allegations that construction workers switched off fire alarms months ago and smoked on site. Concerns about safety standards for construction mesh were highlighted by a widely shared video showing a local council member demonstrating how quickly the material melts and burns.
Emergency Response and Community Support
The air around Tai Po remained thick with acrid smoke, reminiscent to some residents of the atmosphere during the 2019 protests. James Tang, who watched his building burn from outside the cordon, expressed sorrow for the firefighter who died: "We are very sorry about this. The fireman tried to save us from the fire, tried to stop the fire and then he lost his life."
Emergency shelters have been established in local primary schools for evacuated residents. Volunteers have created an impromptu market of donated clothes, food and essentials for the now-homeless residents of Wang Fuk Court and others temporarily evacuated from neighbouring buildings.
Pastor Samson Wong from Cumberland Presbyterian church was among those providing emotional support to grieving families, noting that while material needs were being met, psychological support was urgently needed.
As night fell on Thursday, the area remained filled with emergency services, onlookers, and devastated families. Outside a building where the deceased were being identified, people wept openly, clutching each other for support, some covering their heads with blankets to avoid cameras.
