Hong Kong high-rise inferno kills 44; hundreds remain untraced as towers erupt in flames
Heavy fire breaks out at residential complex in Tai Po, causing extensive damage, while rescue teams hurry to find the missing residents
How the disaster unfolded
A deadly fire tore through the residential estate at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, ripping through an eight-tower complex of buildings each 32 stories high. The fire is believed to have originated from bamboo scaffolding that was installed for renovation work and which quickly caught fire. The highly flammable material, as well as construction mesh, contributed to flames racing across the exterior of the buildings within minutes.
Videos captured at the scene showed intense flames bursting out from several floors, with thick smoke that filled the staircases and corridors. Residents reported hearing shouts of help as bits of burning debris fell off the towers. Because some windows and exits had been sealed for maintenance work, many elderly occupants were unaware of the danger until alerted by neighbors.
Gusty winds and the availability of flammable renovation materials in the building exacerbated matters, allowing the fire to shoot upwards and sideways across several blocks. Firefighters fought the fire well into the night but laboured under extreme temperatures, falling scaffolding, and disappearing visibility. Rescue crews found it particularly hard to access the upper floors.
Authorities later confirmed that at least 44 people had lost their lives, including a firefighter, and around 279 people remained missing. More than 900 residents were taken to emergency shelters as several families remained desperate for news about their loved ones. Police have arrested three contractors who were involved in the renovation on suspicion of manslaughter, as probes investigate the safety lapses and continued use of bamboo scaffolding on high-rise buildings.
