HONG KONG: At least 44 people have been killed and hundreds remain missing after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise complex in Hong Kong on Wednesday, authorities said. Firefighters continued dousing the blaze on Thursday, as the city grappled with the financial hub’s worst fire in decades.
Read More: Deadly blaze tears through Hong Kong towers
The fire broke out in the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po, a cluster of eight apartment blocks with around 2,000 units. Flames were reported to have started on bamboo scaffolding during estate-wide maintenance work, with police arresting three men suspected of “gross negligence” for leaving flammable materials behind.
44 dead after fire ravages 7 high-rise buildings in Hong Kong, 3 arrested, death toll likely to go much higher pic.twitter.com/3sWxHP4Zx0
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) November 27, 2025
Residents described chaos during the evacuation, as many elderly tenants were unaware of the fire due to closed windows. A 65-year-old resident, Yuen, said neighbours had to alert each other by phone to escape. Fire service officials reported that some floors remained inaccessible due to extreme heat, leaving rescue efforts ongoing.
Almost 17 hours later, fire is under control but 44 people, including a firefighter, have died, 279 are still missing, 68 are in hospital, 16 in critical condition, and 25 deemed serious—all this only because of few people in powers’ greed and few others negligence.#HomeKong pic.twitter.com/xmnze3Akbj
— ž (@zetoaye) November 27, 2025
Among the dead was a 37-year-old firefighter, found with burns after losing contact with his colleagues. Government figures indicate 56 people are hospitalized, with 16 in critical condition. City leader John Lee confirmed that 279 residents were initially unaccounted for, while more than 900 sought refuge in temporary shelters.
The Fire Services Department brought Wednesday's deadly Tai Po fire under control in the early hours of Thursday. At least 44 people are dead, 279 are missing and dozens are injured after a fire engulfed seven residential towers. Full coverage: https://t.co/8LaESI6WYA Photo:… pic.twitter.com/6f05hojY9n
— Hong Kong Free Press HKFP (@hkfp) November 26, 2025
The fire spread quickly across buildings, driven by wind and debris, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, extended condolences to the victims and their families.
Read More: Fire traps residents in Hong Kong apartment tower
Residents expressed heartbreak and fear for those still trapped. Emergency services worked to evacuate people and secure nearby areas, with highways closed to support firefighting operations. Although such deadly fires are less common today due to improved safety measures, the scale of this blaze shocked the densely populated city.