Devastation Strikes Hong Kong as Fire Consumes Apartment Complex

Thu Nov 27 2025 22:40:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A severe fire in Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court has left at least 36 dead and hundreds missing, with residents in shock as the blaze ravages the housing complex.

In a tragic incident in Hong Kong's Tai Po district, a devastating fire broke out at the Wang Fuk Court, resulting in the loss of at least 36 lives with hundreds still unaccounted for. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but it is believed to have spread rapidly due to bamboo scaffolding used for renovations. The community is deeply shaken, with many residents mourning the loss of friends and family as they await news of those trapped inside. Calls for effective government action and support are growing amid the crisis.

When you get closer the heat rises and you can feel it and the smoke is really heavy.

Student Thomas Liu was one of many people drawn to the scene of a deadly fire that tore through much of the eight-block Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district.

At least 36 people have died in Wednesday's devastating blaze so far, and with hundreds still missing it's expected this number will rise. The cause is not yet known.

It's a disaster, Thomas said of the fire, telling the BBC he had seen a body being taken away.

Many people sent us WhatsApp messages or called us, saying they still have relatives inside or can't find them, Mui Siu-fung, a councillor for the Tai Po district, told BBC Chinese.

More than a thousand other people were forced to evacuate the estate as the flames spread, with some heading to centres set up to assist them. Police also moved people from nearby buildings.

The fire is gradually being contained but officials say they do not know when it will be fully extinguished. Flames could be seen coming from individual apartments as many people watched on in silence.

Harry Cheung, a long-time resident of the complex, described hearing a loud noise and fires erupting nearby. As a result, he went back to pack his belongings. I don't even know how I feel right now. I'm just thinking about where I'm going to sleep tonight because I probably won't be able to go back home, he said.

A woman in her sixties expressed concern for her friends, noting that some have yet to be accounted for, deepening community anxiety. Another resident reported a neighbour trapped inside one of the buildings.

Many have voiced frustration over the speed of the response to such a massive fire, questioning why helicopter support has not been utilized as seen in wildfire situations.

In the wake of this tragedy, Hong Kong chief executive John Lee has stated that government departments are assisting affected residents. However, the sense of despair and heartbreak among the residents remains palpable as they look toward recovery in the aftermath of this disaster.