Hong Kong apartment fire: Latest update as Tai Po fire kills 14

A massive Hong Kong apartment fire at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po has killed at least 14 people and injured many more after flames ripped through multiple high-rise residential blocks on Wednesday. The blaze began mid-afternoon and quickly escalated into a No. 5 alarm, the city’s highest fire alert level, as thick black smoke poured from the towers wrapped in bamboo scaffolding. Officials warn the death toll and number of injured could rise as crews continue searching the complex into the night.

The fire has engulfed seven of the estate’s eight blocks, each more than 30 storeys tall, trapping residents and forcing large-scale evacuations in one of Hong Kong’s most densely populated suburban districts. Authorities say the cause of the blaze is still under investigation, but early focus has turned to the bamboo scaffolding and plastic construction mesh surrounding the buildings, which appeared to channel the flames upward.

Rescue operation and rising toll at Wang Fuk Court

Fire services say they received the first emergency calls at about 2:51 p.m. local time after reports of smoke and flames at Wang Fuk Court in northern Tai Po. Within hours, the Hong Kong apartment fire had spread along exterior scaffolding and into several residential blocks, forcing the alert level up to a No. 5 alarm as additional engines and specialist teams were deployed. The estate contains around 2,000 flats and is home to several thousand residents under a subsidised home ownership scheme.

Officials have confirmed that a firefighter is among the dead, underscoring the ferocity of the blaze and the difficulty of reaching upper floors. Rescue crews have battled intense heat, falling metal and bamboo, and pockets of fire hidden behind green construction mesh as they work ladder trucks and internal stairwells to reach those trapped. Authorities and media reports describe dozens injured and hundreds of residents initially unaccounted for or still being contacted by emergency teams and social workers.

Residents described hearing a loud noise just before the fire took hold, followed by flames racing up the side of one block and then leaping to neighbouring towers. Some people fled down smoke-filled stairwells carrying children and elderly relatives, while others were told by firefighters to remain in their flats and seal doors when escape routes became too dangerous. Nearby roads, including a major section of Tai Po Road, were closed, bus routes diverted and sports halls and shopping centres opened as temporary shelters for evacuees.

Scaffolding, safety rules and wider questions after the blaze

Wang Fuk Court is a more than 40-year-old high-rise housing complex that has been undergoing a large-scale exterior renovation project costing hundreds of millions of Hong Kong dollars. All eight blocks were wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and netting at the time of the fire, and early images show flames climbing this structure and then punching into flats. Investigators are expected to look closely at whether the materials used on the scaffolding and mesh were fire-resistant and whether any work practices may have contributed to how quickly the blaze spread.

The tragedy comes months after the Hong Kong government began formally phasing out bamboo scaffolding on public projects, citing safety concerns and requiring at least half of new public works to use metal frames instead. Wednesday’s Hong Kong apartment fire is likely to intensify debate about how fast that transition is happening, and whether private and subsidised housing projects should be required to adopt stricter standards. Weather conditions, including dry air, strong winds and a heightened fire danger warning, may also have helped feed the flames around the towers.

The disaster has already been described by officials and local media as Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades, recalling the 1996 Garley Building blaze that killed 41 people and led to major changes in fire codes and evacuation rules. Once the current emergency is brought under control, authorities are expected to face tough questions over inspection regimes, the adequacy of escape routes in ageing high-rises, and how renovation work is supervised in dense estates. For residents of Wang Fuk Court and the wider Tai Po community, the focus now is on finding missing loved ones and securing safe shelter while the estate remains a disaster zone.

For now, the Hong Kong apartment fire at Wang Fuk Court stands as a catastrophic reminder of the risks that come with dense high-rise living, complex renovation work and fast-moving flames. With at least 14 people dead, dozens injured and many more displaced, the city is bracing for days of difficult recovery and a detailed investigation into how such a deadly blaze was able to spread so far, so fast.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What happened in the Hong Kong apartment fire at Wang Fuk Court?

A large fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district. Flames spread across bamboo scaffolding and into several high-rise blocks, leading to at least 14 deaths and many injuries. Fire crews raised a No. 5 alarm and are still working to fully contain the blaze and search the buildings.

Q2: How many people have died or been injured so far?

Authorities say at least 14 people have been killed, including a firefighter who died while battling the blaze. Dozens more have been taken to hospital with injuries ranging from smoke inhalation to severe burns. Officials warn that both the death toll and the number of injured could rise as searches continue.

Q3: Where exactly did the Hong Kong apartment fire happen?

The fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a government-subsidised housing estate in the Tai Po district in Hong Kong’s New Territories. The complex consists of eight residential towers and around 2,000 flats. It sits near major roads and other estates, which have also been affected by smoke, road closures and evacuations.

Q4: Did bamboo scaffolding make the Hong Kong apartment fire worse?

Early images and eyewitness reports suggest the flames spread rapidly along bamboo scaffolding and plastic mesh that covered the buildings during renovation work. Investigators have not yet issued formal findings, but safety experts expect the scaffolding design and materials to be a key part of the inquiry. The incident is likely to accelerate Hong Kong’s move away from bamboo scaffolding toward metal systems.

Q5: Is the Hong Kong apartment fire fully under control now?

Fire crews have contained parts of the blaze, but as of the latest updates some sections of the estate are still burning and remain dangerous. Hundreds of firefighters and dozens of fire engines and ambulances are on scene. Authorities say their priorities are rescuing anyone still trapped, supporting evacuees and then stabilising the structures before detailed investigations begin.

References

Reuters. (2025). “Fire engulfs Hong Kong residential building killing at least 14 people, trapping others.” Published November 26, 2025.

Associated Press. (2025). “13 people killed in fire engulfing Hong Kong high-rise residential buildings, fire services say.” Published November 26, 2025.

BBC News (via GBC). (2025). “At least 13 dead as more than 700 firefighters tackle Hong Kong blaze.” Published November 26, 2025.

The Guardian. (2025). “At least 13 dead after fire engulfs residential tower blocks in Hong Kong.” Published November 26, 2025.