Blaze Sweeps Through Hong Kong High-Rises, Leaving Tragedy and Chaos
A devastating scene has unfolded in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, where a massive fire has swept through several residential towers at the Wang Fuk Court complex. As the situation continues to develop, at least four people have been confirmed dead, including a firefighter who lost contact with his team while battling the blaze. Many others have been injured, and several residents are feared to still be trapped inside their homes.
What makes this fire especially alarming is how quickly it spread. Witnesses stepping out of the Tai Po Market station described an almost surreal sight — entire rooms glowing orange, flames shooting up the façades, and thick smoke billowing into the sky. The blaze raced through bamboo scaffolding surrounding multiple buildings, a traditional construction method in Hong Kong that is lightweight and fast to assemble but can fuel a fire’s rapid expansion. By the time firefighters arrived, the flames had already engulfed parts of at least three towers.
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The government initially classified the blaze as a level four fire, which is already considered extremely serious, but by early evening it was raised to level five — the highest alert level in Hong Kong’s system. Fire and rescue teams were deployed in large numbers, with ladder trucks spraying water from above as paramedics stood ready below. Despite their efforts, contact was lost with a 37-year-old firefighter around 3:30pm. He was later found and rushed to hospital, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterward, marking a painful loss for the fire service.
The Wang Fuk Court estate, built in the early 1980s, houses nearly 4,600 people in compact, closely spaced apartments. That density means any emergency can impact thousands within minutes. Reports suggest that around 13 people — including elderly residents and even babies — were still unaccounted for earlier in the evening, though these numbers have not been fully confirmed. Pets, including dozens of cats, were also believed to be trapped.
Evacuations began in nearby estates as smoke drifted across the district. Elderly residents were seen making their way slowly toward temporary shelters, some with the help of walking sticks or wheelchairs. Authorities quickly opened community halls for displaced residents, while help desks and hotlines were set up for families trying to locate loved ones.
Major highways around Tai Po were shut down, causing widespread disruption. Witnesses described crowds gathering on overhead walkways, watching in shock as firefighters attempted to contain the inferno. For now, questions remain: what sparked the fire, how far it has spread internally, and how many people may still be inside.
But one thing is already clear — this tragedy has shaken an entire community, and the full extent of its impact is only beginning to emerge.
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