Hong Kong is reeling from its deadliest fire in nearly eight decades, as authorities confirmed at least 128 deaths following the massive high-rise blaze at Wang Fuk Court. Officials warned that the toll may rise further, with the fate of nearly 200 residents still uncertain, including 89 victims whose identities remain unverified.
At a press briefing on Friday, Secretary for Security Chris Tang said search operations were ongoing and stressed that officials could not rule out the discovery of more bodies amid the charred remains of the eight-tower housing estate in northern Hong Kong.
How the Fire Spread So Rapidly
Investigators revealed that renovation materials used at the estate played a major role in accelerating the spread of the fire.
The blaze, which erupted on Wednesday on the lower floors, quickly engulfed the building after netting wrapped around bamboo scaffolding caught fire, igniting highly flammable foam boards installed around windows. The intense heat caused bamboo scaffolding poles to collapse, sending burning debris onto other floors and spreading flames throughout the complex.
Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung disclosed a critical failure: the building’s fire alarms did not produce any sound, preventing early evacuation.
This disaster marks the most lethal fire in Hong Kong since 1948, when a warehouse blaze killed 176 people.
Arrests Linked to Renovation Work
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) announced the arrest of eight individuals tied to the renovation project, including:
- Two directors and two project managers from the engineering consultancy overseeing the construction
- Three scaffolding subcontractors, including a husband-and-wife team who run the business
- A middleman involved in coordinating the renovation
Earlier, police had already arrested two directors and a consultant from the main contractor on suspicion of manslaughter.
Officials revealed a troubling oversight pattern: regulators had conducted 16 inspections, issuing repeated warnings—most recently last week—urging contractors to implement fire-prevention measures. Those warnings were largely ignored.
The company responsible for the HK$315.5 million (US$40.6 million) renovation is currently handling 11 other residential projects across the city.
Government Response and Political Ripples
Lawmaker Regina Ip urged a review of regulations governing fire-retardant construction materials, saying it was too soon to assign blame but necessary to identify gaps in standards and enforcement.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, after visiting the site on Thursday, ordered a city-wide inspection of all buildings undergoing major renovations. He also assured that each affected family would receive HK$10,000 in immediate relief, with an additional HK$50,000 announced on Friday as living allowance.
Lee further pledged to fully phase out bamboo scaffolding in favor of metal alternatives, marking a significant shift in Hong Kong’s construction practices.
The tragedy comes at a sensitive political moment, just days before legislative elections, raising questions about whether the government may consider postponing them.
Citywide Impact: Events Cancelled, Donations Pour In
The blaze has cast a shadow across Hong Kong, prompting multiple cancellations:
- Oxfam Trailwalker race
- Disneyland’s Zootopia 2 premiere
- Standard Chartered Arts in the Park festival
- A 10-km race organized by Hong Kong Marathon Pro and Pegasus Athletics Club
Economist Gary Ng from Natixis described the disaster as the result of “a series of mistakes by various stakeholders” and urged reforms, given Hong Kong’s large stock of aging residential buildings.
The death toll now surpasses that of London’s Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which claimed 72 lives and was later attributed to severe lapses by government and construction bodies.
Aid and Shelter for Displaced Residents
Approximately 1,800 transitional housing units—equivalent to the entire estate’s capacity—will be opened for displaced families. Volunteers, NGOs, and corporate donors have mobilized rapidly. Notably, the Hong Kong Jockey Club pledged up to HK$170 million to support relief and reconstruction efforts.
Deadly fires have historically spurred major policy reforms in Hong Kong. The 1953 Shek Kip Mei fire, which forced tens of thousands of residents into homelessness, led to the city’s modern public housing programme. Many now expect this latest tragedy to trigger another major overhaul in safety, infrastructure, and regulatory oversight.