Hong Kong High-Rise Inferno Kills at Least 55; Nearly 300 Missing as Unsafe Scaffolding Suspected

A massive fire continued to burn through parts of the Wang Fuk Court housing complex on Thursday, killing at least 55 people and leaving nearly 300 unaccounted for, in what authorities say may be one of the city’s deadliest building disasters in decades.

Firefighters worked through the night but struggled to reach upper floors due to intense heat, collapsing scaffolding, and thick black smoke still pouring from several of the 32-storey towers.

Possible Negligence: Unsafe Materials and Sealed Windows

Hong Kong police revealed that the blaze may have been exacerbated by unsafe bamboo scaffolding, green construction mesh, and foam materials used during renovations.

Investigators found that some windows in one block—initially untouched by fire—had been sealed with foam by a renovation contractor, preventing ventilation and escape.

Police Superintendent Eileen Chung said authorities have “reason to believe” the construction company acted with gross negligence, allowing the fire to spread uncontrollably.

Three men from the company—two directors and an engineering consultant—have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

Fire Engulfs Multiple Blocks of Densely Packed Complex

The blaze began Wednesday afternoon in the Tai Po district, home to 2,000 apartments housing more than 4,600 residents. By Thursday morning, authorities had brought four of the eight blocks under control, but operations were ongoing in three others.

Dramatic footage showed flames shooting out of upper floors, with bamboo scaffolding collapsing and falling to the ground as firefighters battled the inferno.

A firefighter was among the dead. At least 45 injured residents are in critical condition.

The death toll has surpassed the 41 killed in the 1996 Kowloon blaze, making this Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since 1948.

Comparisons to London’s Grenfell Tower Tragedy

The disaster has drawn comparisons to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, which killed 72 people, due to similar concerns over flammable exterior materials and lax oversight by construction firms.

Residents have taken to social media alleging cost-cutting and negligence during the HK$330 million renovation project.

One viral video showed construction workers smoking on bamboo scaffolding surrounding one of the blocks.

Desperate Families, Uncontactable Residents

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said 279 people remain uncontactable, while more than 900 residents have sought refuge in emergency shelters.

Many relatives fear the worst.

A 71-year-old resident, Mr. Wong, broke down while revealing his wife was still trapped inside.
Another resident, 66-year-old Harry Cheung, said he fled after hearing a loud explosion.
A woman surnamed Chu said she still cannot reach her friends in the neighboring block.

Xi Jinping Orders “All-Out Effort”

From Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an “all-out effort” to extinguish the fire and minimize casualties, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Schools Closed, Roads Shut, Services Disrupted

The fire has caused widespread disruption:

• 39 bus routes diverted

• Multiple roads closed

• At least six schools shut

• Construction debris falling from the towers forced police to cordon off large areas around the complex

Bamboo Scaffolding Under Scrutiny

Hong Kong began phasing out traditional bamboo scaffolding in March after 22 worker deaths between 2019 and 2024.
Although fire hazards were not the main reason, three bamboo-related fires have occurred this year alone.

A Tragedy in One of the World’s Densest Cities

Wang Fuk Court, built in 1983 under Hong Kong’s subsidized ownership scheme, sits in one of the most densely populated regions of the world.
Renovation work began a year ago, with each unit paying between HK$160,000 and HK$180,000.

The tragedy comes just days before Hong Kong’s December legislative elections and has already triggered public anger and renewed scrutiny of housing safety in the city.