Hong Kong’s Deadliest Fire in Decades Kills 13, Including Firefighter

Thick smoke and flames rise as a major fire engulfs several apartment blocks at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong's Tai Po district on November 26, 2025 (Yan ZHAO / AFP)

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Hong Kong’s Deadliest Fire in Decades Kills at least 36, at Tai Po Residential Complex

Patricia Romero - International
Tell Us Worldwide Media

HONG KONG - A devastating fire ripped through the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po district on Wednesday afternoon, killing 13 people—including a firefighter—and injuring 28 others. The blaze, which was escalated to a Level 5 alarm, the highest on Hong Kong’s emergency scale, marks the deadliest fire in the city since 1996.

The fire broke out around 2:50 p.m. local time in the densely populated, government-subsidized complex undergoing an extensive exterior renovation. Authorities and residents said the flames spread rapidly across the buildings’ bamboo scaffolding and flammable construction netting, engulfing seven of the eight 31-story towers within minutes.

Officials confirmed that the fire’s swift escalation was fueled by the bamboo scaffolding encasing the eight-block estate, home to nearly 4,800 residents. Deputy Director of Fire Services (Operations) reported that rescuers faced intense heat and falling debris, limiting their ability to reach the upper floors. Over 700 firefighters and 400 police officers responded to the scene with 128 fire engines and 57 ambulances, but water jets only effectively reached the middle floors.

Among the fatalities was 37-year-old Fireman Ho Wai-ho, who went missing shortly after arrival and later was found dead from burn injuries, highlighting the dangerous conditions rescuers faced. Many residents affected were elderly, with some trapped inside the burning buildings. Emotional scenes unfolded as relatives waited anxiously outside; a 71-year-old man surnamed Wong tearfully reported his wife remained inside.

More than 700 residents were evacuated, with temporary shelters set up in local community centers and schools. Nearby roads and highways remained closed late into the evening as emergency operations continued.

The disaster has intensified scrutiny over Hong Kong’s entrenched use of bamboo scaffolding despite government plans to replace it with metal scaffolding for public projects. Officials have launched an investigation to determine the fire’s exact cause, while Chief Executive John Lee visited survivors and emergency shelters. Chinese President Xi Jinping extended condolences to the victims and the firefighter who lost his life.

The tragedy renews urgent debate on building safety standards and construction practices in the city as authorities work to prevent similar catastrophes in the future.