The death toll from Hong Kong’s worst fire in decades has risen to 128, with around 200 people still missing after a blaze tore through the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po district. Authorities said fire alarms in all eight residential blocks were malfunctioning, forcing residents to bang on doors and run from flat to flat to warn neighbours as flames spread.
The fire began on Wednesday afternoon and raced through seven of the estate’s eight high-rise towers, turning the densely packed complex into an inferno. Fire services said the blaze, which burned for more than 40 hours, was largely extinguished by Friday morning after crews searched over 1,800 flats for survivors.
Investigators believe the fire started in protective netting on the lower floors of one tower, with foam boards and bamboo scaffolding used for renovation work helping to fuel and spread the flames. The government has vowed enforcement action against contractors after fire services chief Andy Yeung confirmed that alarm systems across the estate had failed.
At the blackened blocks, workers were seen carrying bodies out in black bags, with reporters counting several removals in minutes. Families queued at mortuaries and hospitals in nearby Sha Tin, where many arrived in tears to try to identify loved ones or search patient lists for missing relatives.
One woman, surnamed Wong, said she had spent days moving between hospitals looking for her sister-in-law and her twin, last heard from around the time the fire was reported. Other witnesses described how one tower “went up in flames” and the blaze jumped to two more blocks in under 15 minutes, turning the sky red.
The disaster is Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since 1948, when an explosion and subsequent blaze killed at least 135 people. Major fires were once common in the crowded city, but tighter regulations and better safety systems had made such large-scale tragedies increasingly rare.
Security chief Chris Tang said the probe into the cause of the blaze and potential negligence could take three to four weeks. The city’s anti-corruption agency has opened a separate investigation into renovation work at Wang Fuk Court, after police arrested three men accused of negligently leaving foam packaging at the fire site.
The Labour Department said it had conducted 16 inspections at the estate since July 2024, issuing written warnings after its most recent visit on November 20 to remind contractors to enforce fire prevention measures. Authorities have ordered immediate inspections of all housing estates undergoing major works and are considering switching future projects from bamboo to metal scaffolding.
The government has announced a HK$300 million (about $38.5 million) fund to support victims and displaced residents. Nine temporary shelters have been opened, with officials arranging emergency housing, cash assistance and essential supplies for those who lost their homes.
Campaign activities for Hong Kong’s December 7 legislative elections have been suspended in the wake of the tragedy. Meanwhile, a spontaneous community relief drive has sprung up near the burned towers, with organised stations distributing clothes, food, household items and offering medical and psychological support.
Volunteers said donations were so overwhelming that organisers had to ask the public to pause further contributions. Residents and officials alike have hailed the response as a sign of solidarity in the face of one of the city’s most devastating modern disasters.
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