A catastrophic Level-5 fire erupted Wednesday afternoon in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, engulfing multiple residential towers within the Wang Fuk Court complex and leaving the city reeling from one of its deadliest fires in recent years. The blaze, which broke out around 2:51 p.m. on the exterior scaffolding of Wang Cheong House, rapidly escalated as flames raced up the building façade, consuming bamboo scaffolding, netting, and surrounding structures with terrifying speed.
The fire intensified within minutes, spreading to nearby buildings including Wang Tai House and Wang Sun House. As thick black smoke choked the sky and explosions echoed through the densely populated estate, terrified residents appeared at windows and balconies begging for help. Emergency calls flooded in as firefighters battled extreme heat, collapsing scaffolding, and blinding smoke.
By 6:22 p.m., fire officials raised the situation to a Level-5 alarm, the second-highest possible classification, signaling an all-hands crisis. The Fire Services Department’s top leadership personally took command as more than a hundred firefighters, paramedics, and emergency personnel were deployed in a massive coordinated effort.
Tragically, the inferno claimed the lives of at least 13 people, including a 37-year-old firefighter who died while attempting to reach trapped residents. Another 15 individuals were injured, many suffering from severe smoke inhalation or burns. Several victims were rushed to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital, while others remained trapped for extended periods before rescuers could reach them.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as residents tried to escape through smoke-filled stairwells while others retreated to rooftops and windows awaiting rescue. The rapid spread of the fire was worsened by flammable external scaffolding materials, which acted as a conduit, allowing flames to climb vertically and leap between structures.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee immediately convened an interdepartmental emergency meeting, activating the Emergency Incident Monitoring and Support Centre to coordinate rescue operations, hospital readiness, and public communication. Lee expressed deep condolences to the victims’ families and emphasized that every available resource was being mobilized to contain the disaster and support those affected.
Authorities have since established a public inquiry hotline at 1878 999 for families seeking information about missing relatives or confirmed casualties. As of late Wednesday, dozens of residents remained unaccounted for, prompting ongoing search efforts amid charred hallways and dangerously unstable structures.
The blaze has sparked renewed concerns about fire safety and construction practices in high-rise areas, particularly regarding the use of bamboo scaffolding and protective netting in densely populated estates.
As firefighters continue to extinguish hotspots and investigators begin their search for the cause, the Tai Po tragedy stands as a somber reminder of the fragility of life in one of the world’s most crowded urban centers—a night when an ordinary afternoon turned into an inferno, leaving a community devastated and a city mourning.