Fire at Hong Kong Housing Complex Kills at Least 13, Several Trapped

A devastating fire swept through several high-rise residential towers at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district on Wednesday, claiming at least 13 lives and leaving others trapped inside the burning buildings.

Emergency services responded after receiving reports of the blaze around 2:50 p.m. local time. By early evening, authorities had elevated the situation to a No. 5 alarm—the most severe rating in Hong Kong’s emergency classification system—as flames rapidly spread across the complex’s bamboo scaffolding.

According to the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, nine people were initially transported to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital. Four victims were pronounced dead upon arrival, while three remained in critical condition. One patient was listed in serious condition, and another was reported stable.

In a somber development, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung confirmed that a firefighter had died while battling the blaze. “I am profoundly grieved at the passing of Mr. Ho, who lost his life in the course of an operation. I offer my deepest condolences to his family members,” Tang said in an official statement.

Eyewitness accounts and photographs from the scene revealed harrowing images of thick, dark smoke billowing from multiple floors as flames consumed the bamboo scaffolding that encased parts of the residential towers. The traditional bamboo scaffolding, commonly used throughout Hong Kong for construction and renovation projects, appeared to have contributed to the fire’s rapid spread across the building’s exterior.

The human toll was evident as emergency responders worked frantically to contain the blaze. One elderly man, identified only as Wong, 71, was photographed in visible distress near the scene, claiming his wife remained trapped inside the burning building.

Troubling questions have emerged about the building’s safety systems. Chan Kwong-tak, an 83-year-old retiree residing in the community, told The South China Morning Post that fire alarms failed to activate when the blaze erupted, despite the buildings being equipped with such systems.

“If someone was sleeping then, they were done,” Chan said, highlighting the potentially fatal consequences of the alleged system failure.

Herman Yiu Kwan-ho, Tai Po’s former district councillor, corroborated these concerns, telling reporters that residents had reported not hearing any fire alarms even after detecting smoke. According to Yiu, many residents were only warned when security guards knocked on their doors, leaving precious little time for evacuation.

The Tai Po District Office responded to the emergency by opening temporary shelters at the Kwong Fuk Community Hall and Tung Cheong Street Community Hall to accommodate displaced residents.

The disaster raises serious questions about fire safety standards in Hong Kong’s high-rise residential buildings, particularly those undergoing renovation with bamboo scaffolding. Bamboo scaffolding has been used in Hong Kong for generations due to its flexibility, low cost, and cultural tradition, but critics have long cited potential fire hazards associated with the practice.

As firefighting efforts continued into the evening, authorities focused on both extinguishing the remaining flames and conducting search and rescue operations for anyone still trapped within the buildings. The incident represents one of the deadliest residential fires in Hong Kong’s recent history.

Local officials are expected to launch a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the fire and the reported failure of safety systems once the immediate emergency has been contained.