The death toll from a massive fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court residential estate has risen to 128, with dozens still reported missing, city authorities confirmed on Friday.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang expressed condolences to the victims’ families during a press conference, while emphasizing that emergency services were continuing to search for survivors. “Many remain unaccounted for,” he said, though officials have not updated the exact number of missing since Thursday.
The blaze erupted on Wednesday afternoon in the Tai Po district and rapidly engulfed the eight high-rise blocks of the densely populated housing estate. Residents reported that flames spread from one building to two more in less than 15 minutes, transforming the complex into a raging inferno. Eyewitnesses described the fire as a “burning red wall,” with some fleeing in panic to alert neighbours due to the absence of audible fire alarms.
After burning for over 40 hours, the Hong Kong Fire Services Department announced that the fire was largely extinguished by 10:18 a.m. local time on Friday. Rescue and recovery operations continued, with workers pulling bodies from the charred buildings. Reports from AFP journalists at the scene described multiple bodies being removed in black bags, while vehicles transported remains to a mortuary in Sha Tin for identification.
Over 50 people remain hospitalized, including 12 in critical condition and 28 in serious condition. Survivors and relatives continue to search across hospitals for missing loved ones. Among them, a woman surnamed Wong expressed heartbreak in looking for her sister-in-law and her twin daughters, last seen around the time the fire broke out.
Authorities have launched investigations into the cause of the fire, focusing on ongoing renovation work at the complex. The foreign scaffolding, bamboo structures, and plastic mesh covering the buildings are under scrutiny, with anti-corruption agencies probing whether negligence contributed to the tragedy. Three men were arrested on suspicion of leaving foam packaging at the site, potentially exacerbating the spread of the fire.
The incident is Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since 1948, when an explosion followed by a fire killed at least 135 people. While large-scale blazes were once common in the city’s densely populated neighbourhoods, improved safety measures over the decades had reduced such occurrences.
In response to the disaster, the Hong Kong government has allocated HK$300 million ($38.5 million) to support victims and their families. Temporary shelters, emergency funds, and accommodation have been set up for residents displaced by the fire. Authorities have also suspended activities related to the upcoming legislative elections scheduled for December 7.
Residents and volunteers have mounted an extensive community response, providing clothing, food, medical aid, and psychological support to those affected. Organizers described the spontaneous relief efforts as overwhelming, highlighting a strong sense of solidarity among Hong Kong residents in the face of tragedy.
Officials have pledged immediate inspections of all housing estates undergoing major renovations, with a focus on replacing bamboo scaffolding with safer metal structures, in an effort to prevent future disasters. Among the confirmed dead are a 37-year-old firefighter and two Indonesian domestic workers, underscoring the broad impact of the fire across different segments of the community.
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