By Harshit
HONG KONG, NOVEMBER 26, 2025
A massive fire tore through several high-rise residential buildings in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, killing at least four people and injuring several others, including a firefighter, in one of the territory’s most devastating urban fires in recent years. Authorities fear more people may still be trapped inside the burning towers as rescue teams continue operations late into the night.
The fire erupted in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex—a group of eight tall residential buildings home to nearly 4,000 residents—around 14:51 local time (06:50 GMT). According to the Hong Kong government, the situation escalated rapidly. Firefighters upgraded the blaze to a level four alarm within 40 minutes and raised it to the highest level five at 18:22, as flames spread across multiple blocks.
By the time darkness fell, large sections of at least three tower blocks remained engulfed in flames. Photographs circulating on social media and local television showed plumes of thick, grey smoke spiraling into the sky as firefighters battled the inferno with cranes and high-pressure hoses. In several images, distraught residents and relatives could be seen gathered at street level, watching helplessly as the towers burned.
Fatalities and Injuries Mount as Firefighters Struggle to Contain Blaze
The Hong Kong government confirmed that four people have died, including one firefighter, who succumbed to injuries sustained during early rescue efforts. Officials said nine people were transported to two hospitals, with three in critical condition, one in serious condition, and another in stable condition as of late Wednesday evening.
The Fire Services Department told the BBC that the deceased firefighter was part of an interior attack team attempting to reach residents believed to be stranded on the upper floors. Dense smoke, extreme heat, and rapid structural deterioration hindered rescue operations inside the buildings.
Local media reported that several families could not be immediately accounted for, prompting fears that additional victims may still be inside the affected towers. Emergency responders said they planned to continue the search overnight, though worsening conditions posed significant risks for firefighters.
Flames Spread Through Bamboo Scaffolding During Renovation Work
Footage shared by residents and broadcast across Hong Kong shows flames racing vertically up the exterior of the buildings—an effect experts say may have been accelerated by the bamboo scaffolding that currently surrounds the complex.
Wang Fuk Court has been undergoing extensive renovation, and the exterior scaffolding, made of lightweight bamboo poles tied together with nylon fasteners, covered large portions of the towers. This traditional building technique, long used across Hong Kong, is prized for its flexibility and strength, but authorities have increasingly raised concerns about fire hazards.
In March, Hong Kong’s Development Bureau signaled it intended to phase out bamboo scaffolding in certain high-risk projects, citing safety issues and vulnerabilities during extreme weather and fire events. While bamboo does not ignite easily, once it catches fire, its vertical alignment can facilitate intense and rapid flame spread—especially when wrapped in nylon bindings and mesh coverings.
Wednesday’s fire appears consistent with such behavior, with video showing entire sections of scaffolding ablaze and collapsing from upper floors.
Residents Describe Chaos, Falling Debris, and Delayed Exits
Residents of the estate described scenes of panic as the fire intensified. Several said the lower levels quickly filled with smoke, complicating evacuation efforts. Others reported hearing loud cracking sounds as sections of burning scaffolding collapsed onto pedestrian areas.
“The smoke hit the corridors so fast we couldn’t see the stairs,” said one resident interviewed by local reporters. Another recalled guiding elderly neighbors out of the building as burning debris fell from above.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether fire doors, sprinklers, or ventilation systems were affected during the early stages of the blaze.
Major Investigation Launched as Fire Still Burns Overnight
As of late Wednesday night, firefighters continued dousing hotspots while preparing for a prolonged containment effort. The fire was still actively burning in at least three tower blocks, and officials warned that full extinguishment could take many more hours.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee released a statement expressing condolences to families of the victims and pledging a “thorough and transparent investigation” into the cause of the fire. Structural engineers have been dispatched to evaluate the stability of the affected towers.
Authorities did not speculate on the cause, emphasizing that conditions remain too volatile for evidence collection inside the buildings.
A Community Shaken by One of Tai Po’s Worst Disasters
The fire is expected to have a long-term impact on both the Wang Fuk Court estate and the broader Tai Po community. With nearly 2,000 apartments across eight towers, the complex houses a large population, many of them elderly or low-income families. Displaced residents are being relocated to temporary shelters.
Urban planners and safety advocates say the incident will intensify debates over high-rise safety protocols, the continued use of bamboo scaffolding, and renovation procedures in Hong Kong’s aging public housing estates.
As night deepened across Tai Po, the full extent of the destruction remained visible in the orange glow of the burning towers—a reminder of the immense challenges facing rescue teams and survivors in the hours ahead.