Quick reads
- A massive fire tore through seven of eight towers at the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po, northern Hong Kong.
- Authorities say at least 44 people have died and hundreds remain unaccounted for (reports give about 279 missing).
- The blaze was declared a level-5 emergency; hundreds of firefighters and dozens of engines were deployed.
- Three men arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with renovation/maintenance work at the site.
- Investigators suspect the fire spread quickly because of scaffolding and flammable renovation materials; formal probe is under way.
When
The blaze broke out on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, and ran through the night into the following day as crews worked to contain hotspots.
Where
The fire swept multiple towers of Wang Fuk Court, a large public-residential estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong’s New Territories.
How
Preliminary investigations and media reporting say the blaze spread very rapidly through exterior scaffolding and renovation coverings materials such as plastic sheeting, styrofoam and bamboo scaffolding are suspected to have helped flames jump between floors and towers. Officials have opened a manslaughter probe and made three arrests tied to companies involved in on-site renovation/maintenance.
Story in short
A ferocious fire ripped through seven of the eight towers at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po on November 26, 2025, killing at least 44 people and leaving hundreds unaccounted for as emergency teams searched for survivors. The blaze was raised to a level-5 emergency, the highest classification, as crews battled intense flames that spread quickly across multiple high-rise blocks.
Rescue operations involved hundreds of firefighters and numerous fire engines and ambulances; hospitals reported dozens of patients in serious condition. Local authorities set up temporary shelters for displaced residents and began a full investigation into the cause.
Police arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter; officials say the arrests are connected to companies responsible for renovation or maintenance at the complex. Early probes point to exterior scaffolding and flammable renovation materials — including plastic coverings and insulation-like materials — as key factors that accelerated the blaze, though investigators caution a full cause will only be known after forensic work.
Hong Kong’s government and emergency services face intensified scrutiny over building-site safety and renovation oversight after one of the deadliest fires in the city in decades. Authorities have promised a thorough inquiry while emergency relief continues for survivors and families of the victims.
