On Wednesday (November 26th), a devastating five-alarm fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, making it the most serious fire in Hong Kong since 1996. Fueled by strong winds, the fire quickly spread, engulfing seven out of the eight residential buildings in the estate and trapping a large number of residents, leaving thousands displaced.
According to the latest data from the Special Administrative Region government, the disaster has claimed at least 36 lives, injured 40 people, and left 279 individuals missing. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, with the possibility of malicious intent currently ruled out.
Eyewitnesses at the scene described the disaster as accompanied by a sudden deafening noise. Resident Harry Cheung told Reuters that around 2:45 pm, he heard “a very loud noise” followed by a rapid outbreak of flames in nearby buildings.
After hearing the loud noise, Mr. Cheung hastily gathered his personal belongings but now finds himself at a loss, unsure of what to do next, stating, “I don’t know where I’m going to sleep tonight, because I probably can’t go home anymore.”
Wang Fuk Court, built in 1983, consists of eight residential towers, each 31 stories high, with a total of 1,984 units accommodating over 4,000 residents.
The fire reportedly started in the closest tower to Tolo Harbour, Block F, before spreading rapidly to other buildings such as Block E. Ultimately, the fire affected seven out of the eight towers in the estate.
Approximately 36% of the residents in Wang Fuk Court are aged 65 or above, significantly higher than the overall elderly population ratio in Hong Kong. The presence of many elderly residents trapped in high-rise buildings presents a major challenge for rescue efforts.
A 70-year-old resident surnamed Wong told Reuters that she watched helplessly as one building after another caught fire and expressed concern for the safety of her neighbors, mentioning that she saw people still searching for elderly relatives who were missing in their homes.
After hastily evacuating, many residents could only stand helplessly behind police cordons, watching the unfolding tragedy.
Firefighters stated that the interior temperatures in the estate were extremely high, making it difficult for them to reach the upper levels of the buildings where many people were still trapped. A 37-year-old firefighter tragically lost his life in the rescue efforts.
Experts noted that the estate was undergoing renovation works with bamboo scaffolding covering the outer walls. This bamboo scaffolding, being flammable, contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
A resident told CNN that the fire alarm in her home did not sound when the fire broke out, delaying her evacuation decision.
A recently retired elderly resident shared with CNN that he had spent eight months and tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars renovating his unit in preparation for moving in, only to see it all “burned to ashes” now.
CNN reported that some residents at the scene questioned why more fire suppression equipment was not deployed and why helicopters for firefighting were not utilized.
During the peak of the rescue operation, over 300 firefighters and emergency personnel, along with dozens of fire trucks, were mobilized for firefighting and search-and-rescue efforts.