HONGKONG: Firefighters in Hong Kong continued battling a massive blaze on Thursday that tore through a high-rise housing complex, killing at least 44 people and leaving hundreds unaccounted for. Authorities say the inferno — one of the city’s deadliest in decades — erupted on Wednesday afternoon at Wang Fuk Court, an eight-building residential estate in Tai Po undergoing large-scale repairs.
According to the Counter-Terrorism Department, the fire spread rapidly after flammable materials, including foam packaging left during maintenance work, caught alight on bamboo scaffolding surrounding multiple 31-storey towers. Police arrested three men suspected of “gross negligence” for leaving hazardous materials at the site. Officers later seized documents from another location linked to the suspects.
By early Thursday, parts of the complex continued to burn. AFP reporters described plumes of thick smoke pouring from shattered windows as fiery debris fell from collapsing scaffolding. Residents recounted chaotic evacuation scenes, worsened by sealed windows and elderly occupants unable to move quickly. “Some people didn’t know there was a fire until neighbours called,” said Yuen, a 65-year-old resident of over four decades.
Among the 44 confirmed dead was a 37-year-old firefighter who lost contact with colleagues during rescue efforts. Hospitals reported treating 56 injured individuals, with 16 in critical condition.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said 279 people were initially unaccounted for, though authorities later established contact with some. More than 900 residents sought refuge at temporary shelters as police struggled to verify missing persons. “The temperature is extremely high, and there are floors we still can’t reach,” said Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy fire services director. He added that gusting winds and drifting debris likely accelerated the spread between buildings.
Chinese President Xi Jinping offered condolences, praising the sacrifice of the fallen firefighter. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also expressed deep sorrow, extending solidarity with China and the Hong Kong SAR.
Evacuations continued late into the night as nearby blocks and sections of a highway were closed. Though once common in Hong Kong’s dense urban districts, fatal fires have become rare, making Wednesday’s tragedy especially shocking for the city.
