Hong Kong Fire Kills 65 in High-Rise Tragedy/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A devastating fire in a Hong Kong apartment complex has killed at least 65 people. Firefighters battled the inferno across multiple high-rise towers for two days, as rescue efforts continue. Authorities arrested three construction executives amid allegations of unsafe building materials.
Hong Kong Tower Fire Quick Looks
- 65 people confirmed dead, including one firefighter.
- Fire spread across seven towers in Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court complex.
- 279 people reported missing; 900 evacuated to shelters.
- Bamboo scaffolding and flammable materials blamed for rapid spread.
- Three construction company officials arrested for suspected manslaughter.
- Styrofoam found near elevator lobbies may have accelerated fire.
- Prestige Construction & Engineering Company under investigation.
- Officials plan safety reforms, including switch from bamboo to metal scaffolding.
- Renovation work at the 1980s-built complex now under anti-corruption probe.
- Deadliest fire in Hong Kong since 1996’s Kowloon blaze.
Hong Kong Fire Kills 65 in High-Rise Tragedy
Deep Look
HONG KONG — A massive fire engulfed a high-rise residential complex in northern Hong Kong, claiming at least 65 lives as firefighters worked tirelessly for two days to bring the blaze under control. The tragedy, among the deadliest in the city’s recent memory, has sparked public outrage, criminal investigations, and urgent calls for building safety reform.
The inferno began Wednesday afternoon at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, a dense residential area near the Chinese border. Authorities believe the fire started on bamboo scaffolding and construction netting surrounding a 32-story building undergoing renovation. Fueled by strong winds and flammable materials, the fire quickly spread across seven of the complex’s eight towers.
By Thursday, firefighters were still dousing smoldering structures, while rescue crews with flashlights combed through blackened apartments. Despite progress, flames were still visible in parts of the complex, with smoke billowing from shattered windows.
Deputy Fire Services Director Wong Ka-wing confirmed the deaths of 65 people, including one firefighter, and reported 70 injuries. An estimated 900 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters overnight. “Our teams are going floor by floor, braving extreme heat and heavy smoke,” Wong said, adding that more survivors could still be trapped.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee reported that contact had been lost with 279 residents, though no updated figures on the missing were provided at a Thursday press conference. Disturbing videos showed rescue operations continuing into the night, with entire sections of the complex reduced to blackened ruins.
Residents described terrifying scenes of chaos and confusion. Lawrence Lee, whose wife was unaccounted for, recounted a harrowing phone call: “I told her to run, but the corridor was full of smoke. She couldn’t see and had to go back inside.”
Another resident, 75-year-old Winter Chung, said she witnessed sparks flying from the scaffolding as she and her partner evacuated. “We’re safe, but we lost everything. I couldn’t sleep all night,” she told reporters.
Construction Executives Arrested, Investigation Widens
Three men—two company directors and an engineering consultant—were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Police believe the trio, tied to Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, showed “gross negligence” in their renovation work on the towers. Investigators discovered non-compliant, flammable materials used in the buildings’ exterior walls and seized evidence from the company’s offices.
In one of the unaffected towers, police also found Styrofoam panels installed near elevator lobbies—an extremely flammable material not intended for structural use. Authorities suspect the material may have played a role in the fire’s speed and intensity.
Chris Tang, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, said further investigations are underway. “These materials should never have been used in a residential high-rise. The source, purpose, and legality of these installations will be scrutinized.”
The city’s anti-corruption agency has launched a parallel probe into potential misconduct tied to the renovation project.
Bamboo Scaffolding Sparks Safety Reform Debate
The fire originated from the external bamboo scaffolding—a traditional building technique still widely used in Hong Kong. But its fire-retardant properties have long been questioned. Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan said the government is now considering a full switch to metal scaffolding for urban construction.
“While bamboo scaffolding has cultural significance and long-standing use, its safety limitations are evident. We must prioritize lives over tradition,” Chan stated. Officials will immediately begin inspecting all buildings undergoing renovations.
Wang Fuk Court, constructed in the 1980s, consists of eight towers with nearly 2,000 apartments housing over 4,800 residents—many of them elderly. The complex had been undergoing large-scale renovation when the fire erupted.
The combination of outdated infrastructure, dense population, combustible materials, and questionable construction practices created a deadly environment when the fire broke out.
Hong Kong’s Deadliest Fire in Decades
This tragedy is now the worst in Hong Kong since a 1996 commercial building fire in Kowloon that killed 41 people over 20 hours. While emergency services have improved dramatically since then, this incident has reignited concerns about regulatory oversight, renovation safety, and crisis preparedness in aging housing estates.
Grieving families and anxious survivors have gathered at shelters, seeking updates, support, and answers. Many fear that this could have been prevented with stricter enforcement of safety codes and more transparency in renovation approvals.
“We trusted that our building was being improved, not turned into a death trap,” said one displaced resident, still wrapped in a thermal blanket.
As the city mourns and investigations intensify, Hong Kong faces renewed pressure to modernize its construction standards and hold accountable those whose negligence may have contributed to this catastrophic loss of life.
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