HONG KONG – The death toll from the catastrophic high-rise fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has tragically climbed to 44, including a dedicated firefighter, as emergency teams continue a difficult search for an estimated 279 people reported missing. The massive inferno, which tore through the Wang Fuk Court residential complex, is being called the city’s deadliest fire in nearly three decades.

The blaze, which began late Wednesday afternoon, rapidly escalated to a Level 5 alarm—the highest severity—as intense flames and thick smoke engulfed multiple towers in the complex. The fire spread with unusual speed, fueled by highly flammable materials used in ongoing renovation work.

Negligence Suspected in Rapid Spread

The focus of the investigation has quickly turned to the materials used during the maintenance project:

  • Flammable Scaffolding: The towers were encased in traditional bamboo scaffolding and plastic netting, which fire experts believe acted as a fuse, allowing the fire to race up the exterior of the buildings.

  • Styrofoam Found: Fire Services Director Andy Yeung Yan-kin confirmed the discovery of highly flammable styrofoam insulation near lift lobbies, a material police suspect was negligently installed by the construction firm.

  • Criminal Investigation: Police have arrested three men—two directors and an engineering consultant from the construction company—on suspicion of manslaughter.

“We have reason to believe that the company’s responsible parties were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties,” said Senior Superintendent Eileen Chung Lai-yee.

Rescue Efforts Continue

Despite bringing four of the affected towers under control by Thursday morning, the sheer scale of the devastation and the intense heat continue to hamper rescue efforts in the remaining buildings.

  • 900 Residents Evacuated: Approximately 900 residents, many of whom are elderly, have been evacuated and housed in temporary shelters.

  • Search and Recovery: Firefighters are battling challenging conditions, with temperatures remaining extremely high and falling debris posing a risk.

  • Official Response: Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee called the disaster a “massive catastrophe” and ordered a full investigation, while Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his condolences and urged all-out efforts to minimize further loss.

The incident has sparked renewed concerns over fire safety standards in Hong Kong’s densely packed high-rise estates, particularly regarding the use of flammable materials like bamboo scaffolding during major renovations.