A devastating fire ripped through several residential towers in Hong Kong on Wednesday (26/11), turning an ordinary afternoon into one of the city’s darkest days in decades. At least 44 people have lost their lives, and hundreds more are still unaccounted for as families wait through the night, hoping for news that doesn’t come.
Source: Sin Chew Daily
The fire erupted in Wang Fuk Court, a dense housing complex in Tai Po where more than 4,000 people live, and according to consensus many of them being elderly. The ordeal quickly spiraled into a catastrophe, trapping residents inside their homes as thick smoke and burning scaffolding spread across the estate.
Timeline: How the Tragedy Unfolded
The fire at Wang Fuk Court began in the afternoon on Wednesday, with the Fire Department receiving its first desperate call at 2:51PM as smoke started curling from Wang Cheong House. Just before 3PM, flames broke out inside the 32-storey building, quickly engulfing the bamboo scaffolding wrapped around it. Between 3:00 and 3:05PM, the fire shot upward, turning the scaffolding into a blazing cage and trapping residents inside.
Source: Sin Chew Daily
Minutes later, burning bamboo collapsed, sending flaming debris raining down and leaping to neighbouring blocks. Within the hour, seven of the estate’s eight towers were affected, forcing residents to flee while others remained trapped behind closed doors. By evening, the heat inside the upper floors became unbearable, preventing firefighters from reaching those still waiting. Late at night, crews pushed forward through exhaustion, trying to clear enough heat to move upward.
Early Thursday morning, flames in three buildings were finally extinguished, while four more continued to burn in scattered patches. By 1:30AM Thursday, officials reported 279 people missing and announced the arrest of three construction company personnel for suspected negligence, as grief, fear, and anger swept through the community.
Source: SCMP
How the fire started
Authorities say the blaze began inside Wang Cheong House, a building covered in bamboo scaffolding for renovation works. Once the scaffolding caught fire, it became fuel, allowing the flames to surge upward and outward at terrifying speed. Safety nets, renovation materials, and polystyrene boards, some suspected to be substandard, added to the fire’s spread.
Pieces of burning scaffolding began falling, igniting nearby blocks and leaving firefighters scrambling to contain fires on multiple fronts at once.
Source: SCMP
Over 128 firetrucks & 57 ambulances deployed
Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed to tackle the blaze, with 128 firetrucks and 57 ambulances sent to the scene, according to Hong Kong’s director of fire services Derek Armstrong Chan said at one point that 888 first responders were on the scene.
Firefighters urged trapped residents to stay inside, seal their doors with wet towels, and hold on until help could reach them. But rescuers admitted that the heat inside the building was so intense they couldn’t climb higher, even as they knew exactly where people were waiting.
They kept pushing, despite exhaustion, burns, and collapsing debris.
Lives lost & families waiting
The death toll has climbed to at least 44, including a 37-year-old firefighter who risked everything to reach those trapped inside. Several other firefighters were injured, including one who collapsed from sheer exhaustion.
Source: SCMP
Dozens of residents were rescued, but with 279 people still missing, families are left clinging to hope as rescue teams continue searching charred hallways and smoke-filled stairwells.
A rare & heartbreaking disaster
Fires of this magnitude are almost unheard of in Hong Kong, a city known for its strict building regulations and high safety standards. This may be the deadliest fire the city has seen since World War II.
Investigators are now looking closely at renovation materials found on-site. Police discovered flammable polystyrene boards blocking windows, as well as nets, canvases, and covers that may not have met safety requirements, raising painful questions about whether this tragedy could have been prevented.
Leaders respond
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed deep condolences, calling for “all-out efforts” to minimise further loss. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee described the fire as a “major disaster,” saying the government would commit every available resource to rescue operations.
As dawn breaks over Wang Fuk Court, smoke still rises from the towers. Firefighters continue their climb, families hold their breath, and the city waits hoping for survivors, mourning those already lost, and grappling with the enormity of what happened.
