Fire at Hong Kong Housing Estate Kills Over 60
A catastrophic fire that ripped through the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Hong Kong has left the city reeling. More than 60 people are confirmed dead, hundreds are injured, and nearly 300 residents are still unaccounted for after flames tore through seven of the complex’s eight high-rise blocks. The fire, which began Wednesday afternoon, has quickly grown into one of Hong Kong’s worst disasters in generations.
Rescuers described intense heat and nonstop falling debris that kept them from reaching people they knew were trapped inside. A firefighter was among those killed; officials identified him as Ho Wai-ho, who later died in hospital from his injuries.
Authorities say much of the estate — which is home to thousands of residents, many of whom are elderly — was wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and mesh as part of a year-long renovation. Investigators now believe flammable materials, including polystyrene boards found blocking multiple windows, accelerated the spread of the flames.
Police arrested three men — two company directors and an engineering consultant — on suspicion of manslaughter. According to police superintendent Eileen Chung, officials believe the responsible parties were “grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties.”
The blaze began at Wang Cheong House and jumped rapidly to neighboring towers, aided by high winds and burning scaffolding. Firefighters battled multiple tower-block infernos at once, deploying more than 800 personnel, over 100 fire trucks, and dozens of ambulances. Many survivors escaped with only what they were wearing, while roughly 900 displaced residents are now in temporary shelters.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said that by Thursday evening the fires were “basically under control,” and announced a HK$300 million relief fund to support affected families. He expressed sorrow for the lives lost and offered condolences to those injured. China’s President Xi Jinping urged an “all-out effort” to reduce further harm.
The incident has ignited debate over Hong Kong’s reliance on bamboo scaffolding — which has long been a symbol of local craftsmanship but increasingly criticized for safety concerns. The technique has already been linked to several fires this year, and the government has begun shifting public projects toward metal scaffolding.
As rescue teams continue searching the burned-out towers, families are lining up at shelters and morgues in hopes of finding answers — or closure — after a disaster the city has not seen in decades.
