Hong Kong’s Fire Toll Hits 128 as 200 Residents Remain Unaccounted — Authorities Arrest Eight Over Renovations

Wang Fuk Court Inferno Claims 128 Lives, 200 Still Missing — Renovation Under Scrutiny

A devastating blaze ripped through the high-rise residential estate of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong beginning on November 26, 2025. As firefighters completed their intensive apartment-by-apartment search on November 28, the official death toll stood at 128. Around 200 people remain unaccounted for, many feared dead or trapped, and authorities have made eight additional arrests related to the building’s recent renovation.

The fire erupted in the afternoon and swiftly engulfed seven of the estate’s eight 31-story towers. Flames are believed to have started in green netting around bamboo scaffolding on a lower floor of one block. Investigators now point to highly flammable foam panels attached to windows and the external surface — installed during renovation — as a key factor in the rapid spread of the fire. Glass shattered under heat, allowing flames to burst into interior spaces.

Fire-safety failures have emerged as central to what went wrong. The director of Fire Services, Andy Yeung, reported that fire alarms in the complex “did not sound when tested”; he declined to say how many failed or whether any functioned properly. The building — which housed many older people — thus lacked early warning mechanisms. The combination of flammable renovation materials, compromised alarm systems, and dense, high-rise construction created a catastrophic environment.

Authorities have arrested eight people, including scaffolding subcontractors, directors of an engineering consultant company, and project managers. The arrests were announced by the city’s anti-corruption agency, as part of a widening probe into possible safety violations or even corruption tied to the renovation project. Earlier, three people from the main construction firm had already been detained on suspicion of manslaughter, accused of using unsafe materials in the works.

The human toll is vast. Among the known dead are migrant domestic workers, including two Indonesian nationals. Reports say many others — including at least 11 additional Indonesian workers — remain missing. In all, 79 people were reported injured, including 12 firefighters; one firefighter has died. Many bodies have yet to be identified, and around 200 people are still listed as missing, with 89 recovered bodies awaiting identification.

Rescue and recovery involved more than 2,300 firefighters and medical personnel. For nearly 40 hours, crews worked to subdue intense flames; the fire was not fully extinguished until early Friday morning. Even after the blaze was declared under control, occasional flare-ups continued as smoke drifted from the charred skeletons of the buildings.

For victims’ families, the aftermath is agony. A 70-year-old resident — forced to register for government aid after losing her home — said: “This all still feels like a bad dream.” Others comb hospital morgues, waiting rooms, and identification centers, desperate for news of loved ones. Many have lost everything — their homes, personal belongings, memories — in the flash of flame.

In response, the government has pledged action. Housing complexes undergoing renovation will face immediate inspections, and officials promise enforcement if safety standards were violated. Public mourning has been declared: flags will fly at half-staff, and the city’s leader will lead a moment of silence. Meanwhile, a relief fund is expected to be announced to assist displaced residents and families of the deceased.

This fire — the deadliest in Hong Kong in nearly 80 years — has sparked comparisons to other tragic high-rise fires worldwide, and raised urgent questions about the safety of older housing stock, the use of bamboo scaffolding and exterior netting, and the adequacy of oversight in renovation projects. As investigations continue, the city remains on edge — mourning its dead, searching for the missing, and demanding accountability.