DOJO – Hong Kong is reeling after its deadliest fire in decades tore through a massive high-rise housing complex in the Tai Po district, killing at least 44 people and leaving more than 279 missing as rescue teams continued pulling survivors from burning towers into Thursday morning. The blaze erupted Wednesday afternoon and quickly grew into a level-5 alarm, the highest severity classification.
What happened at the Tai Po housing complex?
Authorities say the fire began on the external bamboo scaffolding of a 32-storey building undergoing renovations. Strong winds pushed flames into the tower and then across the Wang Fuk Court complex, igniting seven of its eight residential buildings. The complex housed nearly 4,800 people, many of them elderly.
Residents described scenes of panic as bright flames shot through windows and thick smoke filled hallways. Firefighters struggled against extreme heat as debris, scaffolding and burning panels fell from the buildings.
By nightfall, flames had engulfed multiple towers, forcing hundreds of residents to flee down smoke-filled stairwells or climb onto balconies as they waited for rescue.
How emergency crews responded
The Fire Services Department deployed more than 200 fire vehicles, 100 ambulances, and hundreds of firefighters. Ladder trucks blasted water into upper-floor windows while teams attempted interior rescues despite temperatures too high for safe entry.
A 37-year-old firefighter died during the operation, and another was treated for heat exhaustion. Fire chiefs said the intense heat made it nearly impossible to reach residents trapped on higher floors.
As of Thursday morning, four buildings were “coming under control,” but firefighting operations remained dangerous.
Deaths, injuries, and rising casualties
Nine people died at the scene on Wednesday, and more victims were confirmed dead at local hospitals overnight. The casualty count climbed rapidly as rescuers accessed new floors. Officials warned that the death toll could rise significantly, with 279 people still unaccounted for.
More than 900 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters as authorities continued door-to-door searches.
Government response and national reaction
Chinese President Xi Jinping issued condolences to the families of the victims and urged authorities to minimize further casualties. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced that government resources will shift toward the disaster response, including a temporary pause in public events ahead of the December 7 Legislative Council elections.
District officials opened multiple shelters for displaced residents, many of whom lost everything.
One resident, identified only as Ms. Wu, told local media: “I’ve given up thinking about my property. Watching it burn like that was really frustrating.”
Why bamboo scaffolding played a role
Bamboo scaffolding remains common in Hong Kong, especially surrounding older towers under renovation. However, its flammability has long drawn criticism. The government announced earlier this year that it planned to phase it out for public projects due to safety concerns.
A disaster unmatched since 1996
The fire is Hong Kong’s worst since a 1996 blaze in Kowloon that killed 41 people and burned for 20 hours. Authorities expect to release an update after all buildings are fully searched and the fire is completely extinguished.
