Hong Kong Fire Death Toll Rises to 55, 279 Still Missing
Public housing blaze in Tai Po leaves 55 dead, hundreds missing, as authorities blame renovation materials and negligence for rapid sprea
- Massive fire in Tai Po public housing kills 55, leaves 279 unaccounted for
- Bamboo scaffolding and foam materials fueled rapid spread; three individuals detained for manslaughter
- Hong Kong issues highest-level fire alarm; hundreds evacuated, emergency response underway
At least 55 people have died and 279 remain missing following a massive fire that engulfed an eight-building public housing complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday.
The fire broke out around noon in the complex, which contains over 1,900 apartments, and spread rapidly due to bamboo scaffolding installed for renovation work and foam plastic materials covering windows. Among the fatalities is a firefighter.
Of the 68 people hospitalized, 16 are in critical condition and 25 are in serious condition. Firefighters have managed to bring three of the seven buildings under control, while flames continue to consume the remaining four.
Authorities have detained three individuals—two managers and a consulting engineer from the construction company responsible for the renovations—on suspicion of manslaughter, citing gross negligence as a key factor in the fire’s rapid spread.
Hong Kong Security Secretary Chris Tang noted that the materials used for the scaffolding and insulation contributed to the unprecedented speed of the fire. In response, Hong Kong issued a level-5 fire alarm, the city’s highest in 17 years.
Around 900 residents from nearby buildings were evacuated and relocated to eight temporary shelters. Over 800 firefighters and emergency personnel with more than 140 vehicles were deployed to battle the blaze, and roads in the area were closed to aid operations.
The disaster drew condolences from Chinese President Xi Jinping, who instructed the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office to support local authorities. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu convened an emergency Cabinet meeting, expressing deep sorrow and offering sympathy to the victims’ families while wishing a swift recovery to those injured.
