What began as an ordinary afternoon in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district quickly turned into chaos when flames erupted inside the Wang Fuk Court housing complex—a cluster of 31-storey residential towers home to nearly 2,000 families.
At around 2:51 pm, residents started calling emergency services, reporting thick smoke rising from one of the blocks. Within minutes, the fire gained terrifying speed, fueled by strong winds and the close proximity of the towers.
By early evening, the blaze had spread to seven of the complex’s eight blocks, prompting authorities to declare a No. 5 alarm—the city’s most severe fire alert.
Lives Lost, Including a Firefighter
Authorities later confirmed a grim toll: 13 people dead, among them a firefighter surnamed Ho. More than ten others were rushed to hospitals with injuries.
Rescue officials warned that the number of victims could rise, as several residents were still unaccounted for.
Residents Watch Their Homes Burn
As firefighters struggled to control the flames, heartbreaking scenes unfolded on the ground.
A 71-year-old resident surnamed Wong wept uncontrollably as he told reporters that his wife was still inside their apartment. “I can’t do anything. I just hope she’s safe,” he said, his hands shaking.
Another longtime resident, Harry Cheung, said he heard “a very loud noise” shortly before spotting flames. “I grabbed whatever I could and ran,” he said. “Now I don’t even know where I’ll sleep tonight.”
On a pedestrian walkway nearby, dozens of people stood silently, watching smoke billow from the buildings. Many filmed the incident, their voices trembling as scaffolding frames crashed down from above.
Bamboo Scaffolding Falls as Firefighters Battle the Blaze
Much of the complex had been under renovation for nearly a year, surrounded by bamboo scaffolding—a traditional material still widely used in Hong Kong.
As the fire intensified, sections of the bamboo frames began collapsing, complicating rescue operations and forcing firefighters to take cover.
The city’s fire department said strong winds played a major role in how fast the flames spread.
A Community in Shock
Tai Po, a densely populated district near the mainland border, has long been known for its mix of old estates and newer developments. Wang Fuk Court, built in 1983 under a government home-ownership scheme, has been home for decades to thousands of middle-income residents.
Late into the night, many of them stood outside the complex, exhausted and traumatised, waiting for updates. Some had already lost their homes. Others feared they had lost family members.
“It’s not like we can move anywhere,” said resident YY Chan, who was waiting outside his block even after the fire had been extinguished there. “You just feel helpless.”
Roads Closed, Rescue Continues
The fire prompted a major shutdown along Tai Po Road—one of Hong Kong’s busiest highways—as emergency crews continued rescue operations. Bus routes were diverted and traffic came to a standstill as more fire trucks poured into the area.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.