HONG KONG – Police have arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter following a catastrophic blaze at a high-rise residential complex in the Tai Po district. The fire, which tore through external scaffolding and engulfed multiple floors, has claimed at least 44 lives and left 279 people missing in what is now the city's deadliest fire incident since the handover to China.
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| Wong, a 71-year-old man, was photographed in tears outside the burning building claiming his wife was trapped inside. / Credit: Reuters |
The tragedy has plunged the city into mourning and sparked immediate outrage over construction safety standards in the dense metropolis.
The Human Toll
The scale of the disaster became apparent as dawn broke over the charred remains of the 32-story tower. Officials confirmed that in addition to the deceased, 62 people were injured, with many suffering from severe burns and smoke inhalation.
Among the dead is a 37-year-old firefighter who had served the department for nine years. Fire Services Department Director Andy Yeung confirmed the loss in a somber press release.
"All of our colleagues are deeply saddened by the loss of such a devoted comrade," Yeung stated, highlighting the extreme dangers emergency responders faced.
Investigation: Scaffolding and "Gross Negligence"
While the precise ignition source remains under investigation, authorities have pinpointed the rapid spread of the fire to the building's exterior renovation works. The flames reportedly ignited the bamboo scaffolding a traditional construction method in Hong Kong before wind conditions whipped the fire into a frenzy, allowing it to breach the interior of the building and jump to adjacent structures.
Police Senior Superintendent Eileen Chung revealed shocking details regarding potential safety violations. Investigators discovered highly flammable Styrofoam materials stored near elevator lobbies and installed on exterior walls, which authorities suspect fueled the unusual speed of the blaze.
"We have reason to believe that those in charge of the construction company were grossly negligent," Chung announced.
The three arrested individuals, aged 52 to 68, include the directors and an engineering consultant of the construction firm responsible for the ongoing renovations.
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| Thick smoke and flames rise as a major fire engulfs several apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Hong Kong's Tai Po district on Nov. 26, 2025. / Credit: Yan Zhao/AFP via Getty Images |
A Night of Chaos in Tai Po
The fire began in the mid-afternoon but rapidly escalated to a Level 5 alarm the highest severity rating by nightfall.
Witnesses described a hellish scene as a massive column of flame and thick black smoke rose from the complex. Live video footage captured the terrifying moments as red-hot embers rained down from the bamboo grid, while trapped residents signaled for help from smoke-filled windows.
Fire chiefs noted that the intense heat radiating from the structure made rescue operations incredibly difficult. Over 140 fire trucks and 60 ambulances were deployed, battling the blaze well past midnight before City Leader John Lee announced it was "coming under control."
Vulnerable Residents
The housing complex, built in the 1980s, consists of eight blocks housing nearly 4,800 people. According to Tai Po District Council member Lo Hiu-fung, a significant portion of the residents trapped were elderly, complicating evacuation efforts.
Approximately 900 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters, while authorities urge those in nearby areas to keep windows closed to avoid the lingering toxic smoke.
National Response and Historical Context
The severity of the disaster drew immediate attention from Beijing. Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed formal condolences for the fallen firefighter and extended sympathies to the victims' families.
This incident marks a dark milestone for Hong Kong. It surpasses the death toll of the notorious 1996 Garley Building fire in Kowloon, where 41 people perished in a blaze that lasted 20 hours. As the search for the 279 missing persons continues, fears remain that the death toll in Tai Po could climb further.