Hong Kong Fire Death Toll Rises to 55 in Tai Po High-Rise Nightmare

The death toll from a catastrophic fire that engulfed the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has risen to 55, marking the city’s deadliest inferno in decades. The blaze, which erupted on Wednesday afternoon and raged into Thursday morning, has left the community in shock as rescue teams continue to scour the blackened shells of the high-rise towers for hundreds of residents who remain unaccounted for.
Hong Kong authorities confirmed the grim milestone on Thursday, revealing that 51 victims were found dead at the scene, while four others succumbed to their injuries in hospitals. Among the dead is a 37-year-old firefighter who perished while attempting to rescue trapped residents from the intense heat and toxic smoke. Over 60 people have been hospitalized, with many in critical condition suffering from severe burns and smoke inhalation.
The fire, which rapidly spread across seven of the complex’s eight towers, appears to have been exacerbated by ongoing renovation work. Witnesses described a terrifying scene where flames leaped between buildings, fueled by bamboo scaffolding and flammable mesh netting that shrouded the structures. “The fire spread uncontrollably,” said Eileen Chung, a senior police superintendent. “We have reason to believe that the company’s responsible parties were grossly negligent.”
In a swift crackdown, police have arrested three men—two directors and a consultant from the construction company responsible for the maintenance—on suspicion of manslaughter. Initial investigations suggest that fire safety standards were ignored, with reports of sealed windows and the use of non-compliant materials that turned the residential blocks into a smokestack.
Chief Executive John Lee has described the incident as a “massive catastrophe” and ordered an immediate, city-wide inspection of all public housing estates undergoing major renovations. The disaster has surpassed the death toll of the infamous 1996 Garley Building fire, forcing a reckoning with safety protocols in one of the world’s most densely populated cities.
As of Thursday afternoon, firefighters had extinguished the flames in four of the affected towers, but pockets of fire continued to burn in the upper floors of three others. With approximately 300 residents still missing, officials fear the death toll could climb further as emergency crews gain access to the most severely damaged units.