Hong Kong Fire: 44 Dead, Hundreds Missing in Wang Fuk Court Tragedy

The fire was first reported at approximately 2:51 PM HKT on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Tai Po District, New Territories.

The complex consists of eight high-rise residential blocks, each 31-32 stories tall, housing nearly 2,000 apartment units and approximately 4,643 residents.

The fire spread rapidly and was declared a five-alarm fire, the second highest level since the handover of Hong Kong in 1997.

The impact of the Hong Kong fire was severe, with at least 44 confirmed deaths, including a 37-year-old firefighter named Ho Wai Ho.

Of these, 40 were found dead at the scene, while four others died after being hospitalized.

In addition, 62 to 68 people were injured, with 16 to 25 of them in critical or serious condition, adding to the long list of victims of this tragedy.

The 279 missing have raised significant concerns among the public and rescue teams.

This fire has surpassed the 1996 Garley Building fire, which killed 41 people, making it the deadliest in Hong Kong since the Happy Valley Racecourse fire in 1918.

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, but initial suspicions point to the external bamboo scaffolding encasing the building.

The Wang Fuk Court apartment complex has been undergoing renovations since July 2024, so all eight buildings are covered in bamboo scaffolding and green netting.

Authorities stated that the speed of the fire's spread was "unusual" and is a key focus of the investigation.

Materials suspected of accelerating the fire's spread include netting and protective sheets used on the building's exterior, which are said to not meet fire safety standards.

Furthermore, Styrofoam found inside the building, which lined the elevator windows on each floor, is suspected of causing the fire to spread more rapidly within the block, burning apartments through the corridors.

The Hong Kong Observatory had issued a Red Fire Warning on November 24 due to dry conditions, which were still in effect on the day of the fire.

The emergency response to the Hong Kong fire involved a massive deployment of resources.

More than 128 fire engines, 57 ambulances, and 767 firefighters were deployed to the scene to extinguish the fire and rescue victims.

More than 1,000 residents were evacuated to the nearby Kwong Fuk shopping mall and other temporary shelters.

Firefighters faced significant challenges reaching upper floors due to the extreme temperatures and thick smoke that enveloped the building.

Drones were also used to help monitor the area and direct water spray at the hottest spots.

By Thursday morning, the fire in four of the eight blocks of the building was under control, but three others were still burning, demonstrating the extraordinary intensity of the fire.

Three men aged between 52 and 68, including two directors and a consultant from the construction company responsible for the renovation, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu called the incident a "major disaster" and emphasized that all government departments were mobilized to assist the victims.

Chinese President Xi Jinping also expressed his deepest condolences to the victims, including the deceased firefighters, and called for maximum efforts to extinguish the fire and minimize casualties and losses.

The Hong Kong government will prioritize handling this disaster and is considering postponing the Legislative Council elections scheduled for December 7 as a result.

The Hong Kong Education Bureau took swift action by canceling classes at six schools on Thursday.