Hong Kong High-Rise Fire Kills At Least 44, Hundreds Still Missing
A huge fire in Hong Kong has killed at least 44 people and left hundreds missing after it swept through a high-rise housing estate in Tai Poon.
Firefighters were still working on Thursday to control the flames, which started on Wednesday afternoon and quickly spread through the Wang Fuk Court complex.
The fire broke out around 2:50 pm. The estate has eight buildings, each about 32 floors high and home to nearly 2,000 flats. All the towers were covered in bamboo scaffolding because of repair work.
Bamboo is still commonly used in Hong Kong, but it is easily flammable. Officials had already warned about its dangers after another fire last year, but the scaffolding had not yet been replaced with safer materials.
Once the flames reached the bamboo, the fire spread very fast from one tower to another. Videos online showed thick smoke rising from several buildings as residents tried to escape. Fire crews struggled to reach higher floors because the heat and smoke were too strong.
It is heartbreaking to see Hong Kong experiencing a major housing estate fire affecting more than 4,600 residents. It has become global news, and even after 13 hours, it is still not under control. Sadly, 36 people have lost their lives, including a firefighter.
Please keep them… pic.twitter.com/nY4SmkzJ67— Ying Tan (@YingTanForNY) November 26, 2025
By early Thursday, police arrested three men linked to the repair work. They said flammable materials were left behind during maintenance, which made the fire “spread rapidly beyond control.” The men now face manslaughter charges as the investigation continues.
Emergency teams have set up shelters for families who escaped the fire, and many people are still searching for missing relatives. Authorities say the final number of victims may rise once they are able to enter all parts of the burnt buildings.
