Hong Kong residential complex fire leaves 55 dead and 279 missing

A massive fire that erupted Wednesday afternoon in a residential complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district has resulted in 55 fatalities and left 279 people missing, according to emergency services figures released Thursday.

The incident, which devastated seven high-rise towers, is considered the worst urban fire to strike Hong Kong in three decades.

The fire began at the Wang Fuk Court complex, which consists of eight 31-story blocks. Seven of these blocks were affected by the blaze, which continued to burn into Thursday. City fire services reported that four of the towers were under control by Thursday morning.

The death toll includes one firefighter, authorities said. In addition to the fatalities and missing persons, 68 people were hospitalized with injuries, including burns and inhalation injuries. Of those hospitalized, 16 were listed in critical condition and 25 were listed as serious.

More than 800 firefighters and paramedics, supported by 140 fire trucks, were deployed to combat the blaze and conduct ongoing rescue operations.

Investigation and Cause

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities suspect the rapid spread of the flames was fueled by materials associated with exterior renovation work that began in July 2024.

The fire reportedly started in one building and quickly spread. Sources indicated that the blaze was exacerbated by the bamboo scaffolding covering the exterior, which was wrapped in safety netting, waterproof tarps, and expanded polystyrene sheets. These materials contributed to the rapid expansion of the fire between the buildings.

In connection with the incident, authorities arrested three men from a construction company on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter.