A massive fire tore through a public housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district Wednesday, killing at least 36 people, including a firefighter, and leaving at least 276 missing as flames engulfed bamboo scaffolding across all eight blocks of the complex.
The blaze at Wang Fuk Court, a sprawling residential complex in the New Territories, prompted authorities to escalate the alert to the highest level, No. 5, by 6:22 p.m., according to the Hong Kong Fire Services Department. Fires in the city are graded on a scale from 1 to 5, with the top rating signaling a major incident requiring extensive resources.
Initial reports to police described people trapped inside the originating building, including a man and a woman found unconscious and suffering severe burns. As the fire rapidly intensified, dark plumes of smoke rose high above the neighborhood, visible for miles and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents.
Eyewitness video circulating online showed sections of green scaffolding mesh — commonly used in Hong Kong’s high-rise construction and maintenance — collapsing in fiery cascades to the ground below. The flames, which started around midday, quickly leaped from one block to another, trapping additional residents on upper floors.
Firefighters battled the inferno for hours amid chaotic scenes, with at least one rescuer among the fatalities. Officials said more than 200 personnel were deployed, using ladders and hydraulic platforms to reach those stranded. By late evening, the fire was partially contained, but crews continued mopping up hotspots and searching for any remaining victims.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, though preliminary accounts point to a possible electrical fault in one of the lower-floor units. Hong Kong’s dense urban landscape, with its reliance on external bamboo scaffolding for building work, has long posed challenges for emergency responders. Similar incidents in recent years have highlighted safety concerns over the temporary structures, which can act as accelerants in windy conditions.
Authorities urged residents to avoid the area as air quality alerts were issued due to lingering smoke. The government pledged support for affected families, including temporary housing and counseling services. Tai Po district councilor Chan Chun-yip called the tragedy “heartbreaking,” vowing a review of fire safety protocols in older estates like Wang Fuk Court, built in the 1980s.
This marks one of the deadliest fires in Hong Kong in years, evoking memories of a 2016 blaze in a similar public housing block that claimed three lives. As investigations proceed, questions loom over preventive measures in the city’s aging infrastructure.
