Hong Kong Fire Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 128 as Investigations Intensify
Hong Kong is grappling with its deadliest fire in more than seven decades, after a massive blaze tore through the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po, leaving at least 128 people dead and nearly 200 others unaccounted for. Authorities confirmed on Friday that search and rescue operations have officially ended, shifting the focus toward identifying victims and determining responsibility for the catastrophe.
A Race Against Time Comes to an End
Firefighters spent two days navigating the charred remains of the eight-tower complex, where the inferno had engulfed seven towers in just hours. Officials reported recovering 108 bodies from inside the buildings, while another 16 victims remain trapped in inaccessible areas due to extreme structural heat. Four people succumbed to injuries in hospital, bringing the toll to 128.
In total, 79 people were injured, including 11 firefighters. Many bodies have yet to be identified, as families continue to arrive at the Kwong Fuk Estate community center in search of missing relatives.
Shock as Authorities Confirm Alarms Never Activated
The head of Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department, Andy Yeung, confirmed widespread reports that no fire alarms sounded in any of the eight towers—a revelation fueling public outrage. Yeung vowed legal action against responsible contractors, calling the situation an “unacceptable failure of safety systems.”
Later on Friday, the city's anti-corruption agency announced the arrest of eight individuals, including engineering consultants, scaffolding contractors, and intermediaries linked to the building renovation project. Three additional construction executives had already been detained earlier in the investigation.
Renovation Materials Under Scrutiny
Authorities revealed that the estate—home to more than 4,600 residents—was undergoing major renovation and was wrapped in bamboo scaffolding covered with green mesh. While officials stated the mesh met safety standards, they identified highly flammable polystyrene foam in the elevator window structures as a key factor behind the fire’s rapid spread.
Security secretary Chris Tang explained that the fire ignited at the lower levels of Wang Cheong Tower, quickly climbing the scaffolding and spreading floor by floor. Broken windows and strong winds allowed flames to move between units, while falling debris from the burning mesh accelerated the destruction.
Firefighters Faced Extreme Conditions
According to Yeung, temperatures inside the towers soared to 500°C, making upper floors nearly unreachable. Narrow interior layouts and cluttered units slowed search operations, forcing teams to advance cautiously through each floor.
Families Desperate for Answers
Heartbreaking stories continue to emerge. A man identified as Mr. Lau, searching for his missing parents, expressed his despair to local media: “I just want to know if they are alive or dead. Not knowing is torture.”
Another resident from the 10th floor said her family survived but many neighbors remain missing. “I don't want to watch the news anymore,” she said. “I just want life to go back to normal, but it feels impossible.”
Foreign Domestic Workers Among Victims
With hundreds of migrant workers living in the complex, foreign consulates have joined the identification process. Indonesia’s consul general confirmed at least one Indonesian national among the dead, with 11 more still missing. The Philippines reported one domestic worker missing, one injured, and 24 accounted for.
Calls for Stronger Safety Laws
The tragedy has sparked renewed debate over Hong Kong’s construction safety regulations. Lee Kwong-sing, chair of the Hong Kong Institute of Safety Practitioners, criticized current rules for lacking enforceable requirements on flame-retardant materials. “These are guidelines, not laws,” he said. “If they were mandatory, compliance would look very different.”
As investigators prepare for a weeks-long evidence-gathering phase, public pressure is mounting for accountability, transparency, and sweeping reforms to prevent another tragedy of this scale.