The death toll from a catastrophic fire that engulfed multiple high-rise blocks in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court public housing estate in the Tai Po district has surged to at least 55, with over 120 injuries reported and hundreds still unaccounted for as rescue operations continue into their second day. The blaze, which ignited around 2:51 PM local time on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, in one of the estate’s 30-story towers, quickly spread to seven buildings due to highly flammable bamboo scaffolding and safety netting erected for ongoing renovations, trapping residents—many elderly—in their homes. Among the dead is at least one firefighter, with 51 fatalities occurring on-site and four more succumbing to injuries in hospitals; 72 remain in critical condition, including eight rescuers.

More than 1,200 firefighters and rescuers battled the inferno for over 24 hours, using drones and thermal imaging to navigate the smoke-filled structures, where flames were still visible in isolated pockets as of Thursday afternoon. The complex, home to about 4,600 residents across 1,984 units, was particularly vulnerable due to its aging infrastructure and the temporary scaffolding, which experts say acted as a conduit for the fire’s rapid vertical and horizontal spread. Initial evacuations saved over 900 people, who were sheltered in eight temporary facilities, but authorities now report 279 still missing, prompting frantic family searches via social media and a dedicated hotline. Indonesia’s foreign ministry confirmed two of its migrant domestic workers among the dead, with two more injured, highlighting the diverse resident base in the low-income estate.

Police have arrested three workers linked to the construction firm responsible for the renovations, charging them with manslaughter due to “gross negligence” in using substandard, highly combustible materials without proper fire safety protocols. Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has also launched a probe into potential irregularities in the renovation contracts. Chief Executive John Lee described the incident as “heartbreaking,” declaring three days of mourning and vowing a full investigation to prevent recurrence in the densely populated city, where this marks the deadliest fire since a 1957 tenement blaze that killed 59. Critics are calling for stricter building codes and regular audits, especially for public housing serving vulnerable elderly populations.