A devastating fire, the deadliest in Hong Kong in over 30 years, claimed at least 55 lives and left nearly 300 people unaccounted for after it engulfed a high-rise residential complex in Tai Po district on Wednesday.
The blaze began in the afternoon on the bamboo scaffolding surrounding a 32-storey tower under renovation and quickly spread to seven of the eight buildings in the estate. Strong winds and flammable construction netting fuelled the flames, which raced up the exteriors and jumped between towers, sending dense black smoke across the New Territories suburb.
Hundreds of residents—many elderly—fled as burning debris and collapsing scaffolding fell from above. Firefighters deployed more than 140 fire engines and 60 ambulances to combat the inferno, while around 900 displaced people were taken to temporary shelters.
Local media reported that police arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter in direct connection with the incident.
FIREFIGHTERS STRUGGLE AS FLAMES ENGULF COMPLEX
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee stated that a joint police and Fire Services investigation team has been formed to determine the cause of the blaze, with early enquiries already underway as search operations continued for missing residents. He said the fire was “gradually coming under control” shortly after midnight.
At least 45 people remained hospitalised, some in serious condition. Deputy Director of Fire Services (Operations) Derek Armstrong Chan explained the challenges facing rescue teams: “Falling debris and scaffolding, combined with extremely high temperatures inside the buildings, have made it very difficult for firefighters to enter and move upwards to conduct rescue and firefighting operations.”
The incident was raised to a No. 5 alarm — Hong Kong’s highest fire classification — and burnt for hours, with heavy smoke rising from multiple towers. Firefighters used aerial platforms to direct water jets at upper floors, while police sealed off surrounding streets filled with evacuees and anxious relatives.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent condolences for the firefighter who lost his life during the operation and expressed sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The affected estate, built in the 1980s, comprises eight closely spaced high-rise blocks that were undergoing major renovation at the time. Authorities confirmed the fire started on external bamboo scaffolding and spread rapidly, aided by strong winds channelling between the towers.
This is the deadliest fire in Hong Kong in nearly three decades. The previous most lethal incident was a No. 5 alarm blaze in November 1996 that tore through a commercial building in Kowloon for almost 20 hours, killing 41 people.
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