A massive fire tore through multiple high-rise residential blocks in Hong Kong on Wednesday, killing at least 13 people and injuring several others, in what authorities have described as one of the city’s most devastating urban fires in recent years. Officials issued a five-alarm warning — the highest emergency level — as firefighters struggled for hours to contain the blaze.
The inferno erupted at the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po, a densely populated district in northern Hong Kong. According to emergency services, the fire initially ignited on extensive bamboo scaffolding surrounding several apartment buildings before racing upward and spreading to other structures. The bamboo, a traditional construction material still commonly used in Hong Kong, burned rapidly and sent thick plumes of smoke into the night sky.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of fear, confusion, and helplessness as flames engulfed at least five of the estate’s eight towers. An AFP reporter at the scene heard loud cracking noises — believed to be collapsing bamboo poles — while ash and embers drifted over the surrounding neighbourhood.
A local resident, Mr. So, 57, stood anxiously near the burning blocks. “There’s nothing we can do about the property,” he said. “We just hope everyone, young or old, can get out safely. It’s heartbreaking. We’re worried there are still people trapped inside.”
As darkness fell, the fire continued to rage. Towering flames illuminated nearby buildings with an ominous orange glow, while rescuers battled extreme heat and thick smoke. Police earlier said they had received multiple reports of trapped residents. Officers on the ground told AFP, under anonymity, that it remained unclear whether people were still stuck inside because “firefighters aren’t able to go in.”
The Fire Services Department confirmed that nine victims were found dead at the scene. Four others succumbed to their injuries after being rushed to hospital. Fifteen additional people were injured, including two who remain in serious condition.
Tragically, a 37-year-old firefighter also lost his life. According to Fire Services Director Andy Yeung, the firefighter briefly went missing inside the burning building. He was later located with severe facial burns and was pronounced dead at the hospital. His death added to the growing toll and highlighted the dangerous conditions responders faced.
Authorities declared a full five-alarm emergency, mobilizing extensive firefighting and rescue resources across the city. As flames continued to spread, residents in nearby buildings described being unsure whether they should stay or flee. One apartment owner in his 40s said he felt trapped: “The fire is not under control. I don’t dare leave, and I don’t know what else I can do.”
Two neighbouring estate buildings were subsequently evacuated as a precaution, according to the South China Morning Post. Officials set up temporary shelters at community centres, opened a casualty hotline, and closed sections of a nearby highway to support firefighting operations.
Residents in surrounding areas were urged to stay indoors, seal windows, and avoid the affected zone entirely.
The incident comes only weeks after a separate scaffolding fire injured several workers in Hong Kong’s Central business district. The city, known for its tall, densely packed residential towers, once struggled regularly with deadly fires in older, crowded neighbourhoods. Over the past few decades, upgraded safety standards have reduced such disasters significantly, making Wednesday’s tragedy particularly shocking.
The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims expressed deep concern, highlighting a string of scaffolding-related fires this year, including incidents in April, May, and October. The group urged authorities to review safety protocols surrounding construction sites.
As of Wednesday night, officials had not disclosed the cause of the blaze. Investigators are expected to examine whether construction materials, scaffolding conditions, electrical faults, or other hazards contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
For now, Hong Kong mourns a deadly tragedy that has shaken one of its tightly knit residential communities, with rescue teams still assessing potential structural damage and searching for any remaining victims.
