Death Toll in Hong Kong Fire Rises as Investigators Probe...

By Mandy Taheri

Politics and Culture Reporter

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Nearly 150 people were killed in a massive fire at a Hong Kong apartment complex, officials said, as investigators found more bodies on Sunday, days after the Wednesday blaze ignited, the Associated Press reported.

The investigation has raised concerns about bamboo scaffolding, renovation netting, foam sealant used around windows and elevators, and faulty fire alarms, with authorities examining several possible fire-code violations.

Why It Matters

Hong Kong police Disaster Victim Identification have gone through four of the seven apartment blocks in the Wang Fuk Court complex as of Sunday, the officer in charge, Cheng Ka-chun said, per the AP. There are eight total blocks, but one is reported to not be extensively damaged.

More than 4,600 people live in the towers, in about 2,000 apartments. More than a third of residents are 65 or older, according to the latest census.

The fire is Hong Kong’s deadliest since 1948 when a warehouse fire killed 176 people. Hundreds of residents fled as firefighters battled flames, with many seeking emergency shelter.

Hong Kong authorities halted 28 building projects led by the same contractor, Prestige Construction & Engineering Company on Saturday night, per the AP. The sites will undergo safety audits.

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What To Know

The fire broke out Wednesday afternoon at one of the buildings, a more than 30-story tower undergoing renovation, officials said. It then spread inside the building and to six adjacent towers, and by that evening much of the complex was ablaze. It was not fully extinguished until Friday.

The structures remain standing but are deeply charred. The complex has been under renovation since July 2024, wrapped in bamboo scaffolding, mesh, and with foam sealant attached to windows. Hong Kong authorities announced earlier this year that bamboo scaffolding would begin to be phased out for public construction projects, with an increased dependence on metal scaffolding.

On Sunday, 30 more bodies were found in the search. At least 100 other people are unaccounted for and around 80 have been injured, in addition to the 146 reported dead. In addition to residents who were trapped in their apartments, a firefighter has also been reported dead.

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Several people have been arrested in relation to the fire, three initially, and eight other suspects later, including engineering consultants and scaffolding subcontractors, per the AP.

The complex has had residents since 1983 and has been managed by the government since then. Director of Hong Kong Fire Services, Andy Yeung, said first responders noted that some fire alarms in the complex did not sound when tested.

The city’s Labour Department told Reuters that the complex’s residents were previously told they faced “relatively low fire risks” after they complained about fire hazards posed by the renovations. Some residents expressed concerns over the green mesh covering back in September 2024, the department told Reuters.

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What People Are Saying

The Hong Kong government said in a Saturday statement: “The five alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po, exposed serious deficiencies of PC&E in site safety management, including the extensive use of foam boards to block up windows during building repairs.”

Eileen Chung, a senior superintendent of police, said earlier this week: "We have reason to believe that those in charge of the construction company were grossly negligent.”

What Happens Next?

Rescue and investigation efforts are ongoing. Hong Kong residents have held vigils and left flowers to mourn those who were killed, amid ongoing food and shelter donations for those displaced.

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