A massive fire swept through several high-rise residential towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, leaving at least 14 people dead and injuring many others as emergency crews struggled for hours to bring the flames under control.
The blaze broke out in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, a cluster of eight residential blocks home to around 2,000 apartments. Dramatic scenes unfolded as thick black smoke poured from the buildings, many of which were wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and green construction mesh. The government began phasing out bamboo scaffolding earlier this year due to safety concerns, but it remains in use at many older sites.
Fire authorities said they faced severe challenges reaching the upper floors because of the intense heat. As night fell, efforts to contain the blaze became more difficult, with strong winds helping the flames spread to seven of the eight towers. The Fire Services Department told Reuters it had not yet established how many residents remained trapped inside.
Among the dead was a firefighter surnamed Ho. More than ten people were injured. Residents who fled the buildings described scenes of panic and fear. A 71-year-old resident, Mr. Wong, broke down as he said his wife remained inside. Another long-time resident, Harry Cheung, 66, said he heard a loud explosion shortly before the fire erupted around 2:45 p.m. “I don’t even know how I feel right now,” he said, adding that he had no idea where he would sleep that night.
Crowds gathered on a nearby pedestrian walkway, watching in shock as scaffolding frames collapsed and firefighters fought the fast-moving flames. Dozens of fire engines and ambulances surrounded the complex as rescue efforts continued into the night. Social media posts from residents said several units had been under renovation for about a year.
The fire broke out at 2:51 p.m. and was upgraded to a No. 5 alarm — Hong Kong’s highest level — by 6:22 p.m. The scale of the disaster prompted the closure of a major section of Tai Po Road, one of the city’s two main highways, with buses diverted to alternate routes, according to the Transport Department.
Tai Po is a major suburban district near the border with mainland China and home to roughly 300,000 people. The Wang Fuk Court complex, built under a government-subsidised home ownership scheme in 1983, is one of Hong Kong’s many densely populated housing estates. The city, known for its towering apartment blocks, is among the world’s most expensive places to live, making home ownership out of reach for many residents.
Hong Kong has witnessed several deadly residential fires in recent years. Last April, five people died in a blaze in the crowded Kowloon district.
On Wednesday night, exhausted residents waited anxiously outside the estate for news. Y.Y. Chan, 68, whose apartment block had already been secured, said watching the surrounding towers burning was still devastating. “It’s not like we can move anywhere,” he said quietly. “We just have to face reality.”
