Hong Kong’s worst fire in nearly eight decades has now claimed 128 lives, authorities confirmed on Friday, after more bodies were recovered from the charred remains of the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Tai Po. Firefighters said they expect to complete search-and-rescue operations by 9 a.m. (0100 GMT) as the massive estate continues to smoulder.
The blaze, which tore through the eight-tower housing estate—home to more than 4,600 residents—began on Thursday while the complex was undergoing large-scale renovation. The buildings were completely wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh, materials that accelerated the spread of the fire and complicated rescue efforts.
Three construction officials arrested
Police have arrested three officials from Prestige Construction, the contractor responsible for the renovation project, on suspicion of manslaughter. Authorities allege that the company used unsafe materials, including flammable foam boards that blocked windows and trapped residents.
“We have reason to believe the company’s responsible parties were grossly negligent,” Police Superintendent Eileen Chung said, noting that their actions allowed the blaze to spread uncontrollably. Officers have seized documents, computers, and mobile phones from the firm’s office as part of the investigation.
Hundreds still feared missing
As many as 279 people were initially listed as missing in the early hours of Thursday, though officials have not updated the figure for over 24 hours. Deputy Fire Services Director Derek Chan said 25 emergency calls remain unresolved—including three received on Friday morning—and would be treated as priority cases.
Firefighters described battling intense heat, collapsing scaffolding, and heavy smoke as they attempted to break into sealed apartments. Most victims were found in two towers, although multiple survivors were rescued from several buildings.
Families wait in anguish
Scenes of grief unfolded across shelters and temporary evacuation sites. One mother, clutching her daughter’s graduation photo, searched desperately for her missing child.
“She and her father are still not out yet,” said the 52-year-old woman surnamed Ng. “They didn’t have water to save our building.”
Authorities said 900 residents are currently staying in temporary shelters, while dozens of evacuees spent Thursday night in a nearby mall, wrapped in blankets or resting in makeshift tents.
Worst fire since 1948
With 128 confirmed deaths, the tragedy is Hong Kong’s deadliest since 1948, when 176 people were killed in a warehouse blaze.
The disaster has sparked immediate comparisons to London’s Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which killed 72 people and was linked to flammable exterior cladding.
Government announces relief fund
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced a HK$300 million (US$39 million) relief fund for affected families. Several major Chinese companies have also pledged donations.
The city’s development bureau said it is now considering phasing out bamboo scaffolding—a traditional but high-risk construction practice—in favour of metal structures.
A test for Hong Kong’s leadership
The disaster comes at a politically sensitive time, with Beijing and Hong Kong leaders moving quickly to signal their commitment to recovery efforts. Hong Kong’s aging high-rise housing stock, soaring property prices, and dense populations have long fueled public frustration.
Authorities say a full investigation will determine whether systemic safety failures contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
