At least 36 dead as fire engulfs Hong Kong tower blocks
Firefighters are struggling to put out the flames and say they are unsure when the blaze will be fully contained.
What happened in Hong Kong
A devastating fire tore through a residential estate in the northern district of Tai Po, Hong Kong, leaving at least 36 people dead.
The blaze erupted on the afternoon of 26 November 2025 at Wang Fuk Court, a housing complex consisting of multiple high-rise towers, where many residents lived.
Authorities also reported that around 279 people remain missing as rescue operations continue.
Dozens more were hospitalised, some in critical condition, while emergency crews fought flames and smoke late into the night.
Why did the fire spread so fast
The towers were undergoing renovation, surrounded by bamboo scaffolding and covered in green netting, materials that are now suspected to have helped the fire spread quickly across multiple buildings.
Eyewitnesses and rescue workers described how the flames raced up the exterior, forcing many to flee or get trapped inside as the fire engulfed seven of the estate’s blocks.
Because of the intense heat and smoke, firefighters found it difficult to reach the upper floors of the 31-storey towers, which slowed down rescue efforts.
Human toll and immediate response
Among the victims was a firefighter who died while trying to save residents.
Hundreds of people were displaced. Many were evacuated to temporary shelters while families searched desperately for missing loved ones.
Authorities dispatched dozens of fire engines and hundreds of emergency personnel, working through the night under dangerous conditions to extinguish the blaze and search for survivors.
Local leaders called the disaster a major tragedy and pledged urgent support and an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Why this fire matters, and what comes next
This is now Hong Kong’s deadliest residential fire in decades. It has reignited concerns over the safety of older high-rise buildings, the use of bamboo scaffolding, and whether existing renovation and construction regulations are being properly enforced.
The rapid spread of the fire has prompted calls for stricter review of renovation practices and building materials, especially for older housing estates, to prevent disasters like this from happening again.
Families of the missing are anxiously waiting for news. The community and authorities face a long road ahead, one of recovery, mourning, and a search for accountability.
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