Hong Kong authorities have issued an emergency order for the removal of scaffolding safety netting across the city, following a devastating residential fire that has claimed 159 lives.
World's Deadliest Blaze in Decades
The catastrophic fire broke out at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate, raging for 43 hours across seven interconnected towers. The death toll of 159 makes it the world's deadliest residential building fire in over forty years. The blaze was fuelled by highly flammable foam panels and non-fire-retardant netting attached to traditional bamboo scaffolding, which allowed flames to spread rapidly up the building's exterior.
Immediate Action and Arrests
In response to the tragedy, city officials have directed that all scaffolding mesh on buildings undergoing major maintenance must be dismantled by Saturday, 6 December 2025. This is a direct attempt to prevent a similar disaster. Police have made 21 arrests in connection with the fire. Of those detained, 15 individuals are being held on suspicion of manslaughter, while the others face charges related to building and safety violations.
However, legal experts in Hong Kong have cautioned that securing convictions for manslaughter under the city's current building regulations presents a significant challenge, due to the high legal thresholds required for proof.
Public Outcry and Political Response
The scale of the loss has triggered intense public grief and demands for accountability, with many calling for a fully independent investigation into the causes of the fire and the safety standards at play. These calls have been met with a warning from Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, who stated that authorities would not tolerate any crimes that seek to "exploit the tragedy." His comments are widely seen as an attempt to manage public discourse and potential protests surrounding the incident.
The disaster at Wang Fuk Court has exposed critical flaws in construction safety protocols and has placed Hong Kong's regulatory framework under severe scrutiny. The urgent removal of scaffolding nets is the first of what may be many changes to the city's approach to building maintenance and fire safety.
