Hong Kong Apartment Fire: Everything We Know as Death Toll Rises in City's Worst Blaze in Decades

‎A catastrophic fire at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has killed at least 94 people, with hundreds still unaccounted for as rescue operations continue. The blaze has become one of the city’s most severe residential fires, affecting seven towers within the densely populated housing estate.

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‎Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court fire has killed at least 94, with hundreds missing as investigators probe scaffolding materials and renovation safety failures.

‎Leung Man Hei/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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‎The fire began at approximately 3 p.m. on Nov. 26, quickly spreading through multiple buildings undergoing renovation. Crews worked through the night, bringing most of the blaze under control by about 2 a.m., though flames continued in several units hours later. A red fire-risk warning had been active due to local weather conditions, and investigators are examining renovation materials, including bamboo scaffolding, mesh, and plastic coverings.

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‎How the Fire Started

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‎The exact cause remains under investigation. Early reports indicate that scaffolding on Wang Cheong House, known as Block F, caught fire first. Residents described malfunctioning fire alarms and said many people were warned only by a security guard knocking on doors. Emergency calls were made by individuals reporting they were unable to escape.

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‎Video footage captured flames burning late into the night. By around midnight on Nov. 27, firefighters had the blaze largely contained, although isolated fires persisted into the next morning. More than 140 fire engines, 800 firefighters, and around 60 ambulances responded. One firefighter died and several others were injured.

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‎Why the Fire Spread Rapidly

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‎Firefighters arrived within five minutes of the first alert but were hindered by extreme heat, falling debris, and collapsing scaffolding. Experts have pointed to bamboo scaffolding, close tower spacing, and possibly insufficiently fire-resistant materials as contributing factors.

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‎Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security Chris Tang reported that protective netting, waterproof coverings, and plastic sheeting burned faster and more intensely than compliant materials. Styrofoam inside corridors further accelerated the fire and generated dense smoke that complicated rescue efforts.

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‎Authorities’ Response

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‎Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee ordered a full investigation and announced checks on all renovation sites using scaffolding. Three senior figures from an engineering firm were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Lee and Chinese President Xi Jinping extended condolences to victims’ families, and additional support from mainland authorities was requested.

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‎Details About the Wang Fuk Court Complex

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‎Wang Fuk Court contains nearly 2,000 units and an estimated population of about 5,000 residents. The estate sits in Tai Po, a district of roughly 300,000 people located about 30 kilometers from Hong Kong’s central business hub. The buildings undergoing renovation were covered in bamboo scaffolding and mesh.

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‎Government regulators had previously flagged fire-safety concerns at the site. Authorities conducted 16 inspections since July of the previous year and issued written warnings urging compliance, including one sent just a week before the disaster. Prestige Construction & Engineering Co., the contractor handling renovations, could not be reached for comment during on-site attempts.

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‎Use of Bamboo Scaffolding in Hong Kong

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‎Bamboo scaffolding has been common in Hong Kong for more than a century due to its affordability and flexibility in tight urban spaces. The government has recently begun transitioning toward greater use of metal alternatives because of safety concerns over bamboo’s combustibility and vulnerability to deterioration.

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‎Recent Fire History in Hong Kong

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‎Several notable high-rise fires have occurred in recent years, though fatal incidents remain uncommon. Local advocates reported this was the fourth scaffolding-related fire of the year. Fires at a commercial building in the financial district last month and a 42-story hotel under construction in 2023 were also linked to scaffolding.

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‎Historical incidents include the 1996 Garley Building fire, which killed 41 people, and a 1962 tenement blaze that left 44 dead. A 1953 fire in Shek Kip Mei displaced tens of thousands and led to Hong Kong’s expansion of public housing.

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‎Impact on Residents

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‎Seven of the complex’s eight towers were damaged, and thousands may be without homes. More than 500 residents were housed in temporary shelters as of Thursday night. The government has arranged short-term accommodations in hotels and youth hostels, though long-term housing remains difficult in a city known for limited availability.

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‎Volunteers and nonprofits have distributed food, water, clothing, and blankets to help affected households manage immediate needs.