A devastating fire swept through a residential complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district, claiming 44 lives and leaving 45 people injured in one of the territory's deadliest residential blazes in recent memory.
Fire Emergency and Rescue Operations
The Hong Kong Fire Services Department received the first alarm at 2:51 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. The inferno rapidly intensified, prompting authorities to escalate the alert level to a No. 5 alarm by 6:22 p.m. the same day.
Firefighters battled the massive blaze through the night at Wang Fuk Court, a residential area consisting of eight buildings. The fire initially broke out in one structure but quickly spread to seven other buildings in the complex, creating an unprecedented challenge for emergency responders.
Casualties and Government Response
By early Thursday morning, November 27, the death toll had risen to 44 victims, with 45 people injured and 279 individuals still reported missing. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee confirmed these sobering statistics during a press briefing in the early hours of Thursday.
Twenty-nine injured residents remained hospitalized, including seven in critical condition. Lee expressed profound sadness over the tragedy and emphasized the government's full commitment to supporting rescue efforts and affected families.
The Hong Kong Hospital Authority activated its Major Incident Control Center to coordinate medical response across facilities. Rescue operations continued throughout Thursday as emergency teams worked to locate missing persons and fully extinguish remaining hot spots.
Investigation and Arrests
In a significant development, Hong Kong police announced the arrest of three men on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the fire. The suspects were taken into custody following initial investigations into the cause of the blaze.
Chief Executive Lee stressed that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government would conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident while simultaneously focusing on fire suppression, resident rescue, medical treatment for the injured, and emotional support for grieving families.
As of Thursday morning, visible flames had subsided from three buildings, while four others showed only sporadic fire spots, indicating that the situation was gradually coming under control after firefighters' tireless efforts.
