THE death toll in a major fire that tore through the Wang Fuk Court residential area in Tai Po, Hong Kong, had risen to 55, said the Fire Services Department (FSD) in a press briefing on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. The fire began Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 26, 2025.
The FSD reported that 72 people injured in the fire had been sent to hospitals for treatment, including eight firefighters, and over 200 people are still missing. The department has extinguished flames in four of the eight affected buildings and brought the fire under control in the other three.
Three men responsible for the buildings' renovations were arrested earlier for suspected manslaughter. The Hong Kong Police Force said the investigation pointed to flammable materials covering the buildings as a possible cause for the rapid spread of fire. The residential area consists of eight buildings, all of which were encased by green mesh and scaffolding due to a major renovation project.
The FSD has dispatched a total of 304 fire engines and rescue vehicles and used drones to monitor heat levels to prevent rekindling. The department was notified of the fire at around 2:51 p.m. Wednesday, and due to its intensity, the alert level was raised to a No. 5 alarm at 6:22 p.m.
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee said in the early hours of Thursday, that the fire had been gradually brought under control following firefighters’ tireless efforts. Lee stressed that the HKSAR government would mobilize all resources to fully support the rescue operations, instructing departments to carry out comprehensive work, including extinguishing the fire, rescuing trapped residents, treating the injured, providing assistance and emotional support to families, and conducting a full investigation into the incident.
The Hong Kong Hospital Authority has activated its Major Incident Control Center. (Xinhua)