Tragic Fire in Hong Kong Tower Blocks Claims 128 Lives

Sun Nov 30 2025 01:20:13 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A devastating fire in multiple high-rise buildings in Hong Kong has resulted in at least 128 deaths and left many others injured or missing. The incident marks the city’s deadliest blaze in over 70 years, with investigations underway into its cause and accountability.

A massive fire that broke out in a Hong Kong residential complex has claimed 128 lives and left dozens injured. Emergency responders battled the flames, which were exacerbated by flammable materials used in ongoing renovations. Authorities have arrested three individuals for manslaughter while an investigation into the incident is launched amid shocking revelations regarding fire safety compliance.

At least 128 people have died in a devastating fire that engulfed multiple high-rise buildings in Hong Kong.

A further 79 people have been injured in the city's deadliest blaze in more than 70 years, which occurred in the northerly suburb of Tai Po, while dozens remain missing.

The tower blocks had been undergoing renovations when the fire began. The cause of the blaze remains unclear but officials said on Friday that Styrofoam placed on the outside of the windows facilitated its rapid spread.

Three people overseeing the renovations are under arrest for manslaughter, and authorities have launched a corruption inquiry.

Bringing the fire - which spread across seven of Wang Fuk Court's eight apartment blocks - under control involved more than 2,311 firefighters. The fire was fully extinguished by 10:18 local time on Friday, the fire department said in a news conference.

The fire department said the fire started at a lower level before moving upwards, and reached a peak temperature of 500C (932F). The blaze reignited in some places after being doused due to remnants of flammable construction materials.

Shock has quickly shifted to anger in Hong Kong, as questions grow on who should be held accountable for the blaze, especially given that fire alarms in all eight blocks were found to be ineffective. Residents have reported not hearing any alarms or indicated that some were turned off by construction workers.

Investigation is set to proceed within the next three to four weeks as police will begin gathering evidence from the incident zone.

Two Indonesian nationals working on the buildings were also killed in the fire, and anger is brewing among the community as prior complaints about renovation fees and safety compliance resurface online.

Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and home to nearly 4,600 residents, with many being elderly individuals who have lived there since its establishment. The incident marks one of the deadliest fires in Hong Kong history, reminiscent of the tragedy in 1948 that took the lives of 176 individuals.