A devastating fire at a residential complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district has claimed at least 36 lives, with authorities announcing nearly 300 people remain unaccounted for in a tragedy that has shaken the city.
Rising Casualties and Emergency Response
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu confirmed the rising death toll during a 1am press conference, revealing that 279 people are still missing while 29 others are being treated in hospital. The fire erupted at Wang Fuk Court, a housing estate comprising eight separate blocks that is home to approximately 4,000 residents.
Emergency services have mounted a massive response, deploying 767 firefighters and 400 police officers to battle the inferno. Despite their efforts, multiple reports indicate people remain trapped within the burning buildings, raising fears the death toll could increase further.
Cause and Challenges of the Blaze
Fire officials identified several factors that contributed to the rapid spread of the flames. Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung Yan-kin confirmed that styrofoam found within the buildings accelerated the fire's progression, allowing it to ignite residential flats through corridors. This dangerous material created extremely challenging conditions for firefighters, who could only enter the structure from the ground floor.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang revealed that preliminary investigations suggest the fire's rapid spread was suspicious. Police and fire service officers will conduct a joint investigation, including a criminal probe, into the cause and any abnormalities discovered at the scene.
Survivor Accounts and Systemic Failures
Disturbing accounts from survivors indicate that fire alarms failed to activate when the blaze initially broke out. Former district councillor Herman Yiu Kwan-ho reported that residents noticed the smell of burning long before any alarms sounded, suggesting critical failures in the building's safety systems.
The human cost of the disaster includes tragic losses among both residents and emergency responders. Firefighter Ho Wai-ho, 37, lost his life after losing contact with colleagues during rescue operations. The nine-year veteran, stationed at Sha Tin Fire Station, was described as a hero. Another firefighter suffered a leg injury, while a third experienced heat exhaustion.
Medical facilities including Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital received at least seven patients, with two reported in critical condition. Meanwhile, approximately 900 affected residents have taken refuge at eight temporary shelters established to accommodate those displaced by the tragedy.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent condolences to the victims and their families, according to state broadcaster CCTV. President Xi has demanded an all-out effort to extinguish the flames and minimise casualties.
Chief Executive John Lee has activated an emergency incidents monitoring and support centre to coordinate rescue efforts and receive reports from the Security Bureau and Fire Services Department. Authorities have established a hotline for concerned members of the public to inquire about casualties: 1878 999.
While officials confirm the inferno is now "gradually under control" and fire service bosses believe they have sufficient resources to extinguish it, the community faces a long recovery from one of Hong Kong's most devastating residential fires in recent memory.
