Devastating Fire at Wang Fuk Court Housing Estate Becomes Hong Kong's Deadliest Tragedy in Decades

A catastrophic blaze engulfed the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 94 lives, including one firefighter. This devastating incident has been officially recognized as the deadliest fire of its kind in the city in nearly 80 years, surpassing the grim toll of the 1948 Wing On Warehouse fire. The flames rapidly escalated to the maximum alert level—Level 5—spreading across seven of the eight high-rise towers within the complex, which was originally constructed in 1983 and was undergoing extensive renovation work at the time.

Authorities have directly attributed the rapid spread of the inferno to the extensive external scaffolding, commonly known as 'Juk Pang,' and the green protective netting covering the buildings. These materials proved to be highly combustible, acting as a perfect fuel source for the fire. Furthermore, initial investigations point toward the use of flammable substances, specifically polystyrene sheets, which residents reported seeing affixed to windows for sealing purposes.

In the wake of this disaster, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, has pledged to initiate comprehensive safety inspections across all residential estates currently undergoing major refurbishment projects. The primary goal of these inspections will be to rigorously verify that all construction materials utilized comply strictly with established safety regulations. This swift response underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for enhanced oversight.

Emergency services deployed approximately 128 fire engines and hundreds of personnel to combat the raging fire. Firefighters faced extreme heat conditions that severely hampered their efforts to reach the rooftops of the 31-story structures. Professor Ehsan Norouzi-nejad from the University of Western Sydney commented that using steel or aluminum scaffolding provides a significantly safer foundation for high-rise construction, given their non-combustible nature. Responding to this expert opinion, Hong Kong authorities confirmed their commitment to accelerating the phased transition to metal structures in public works projects, a process that had already begun earlier in 2025.

The police have taken three men into custody, all connected to the contracted construction company, on suspicion of manslaughter. This action suggests a potential criminal element involving gross negligence. Reports indicated that residents had lodged complaints about construction workers smoking near the scaffolding for half a year prior to the incident. A former security chief confirmed that the fire alarm system had been deliberately deactivated to accommodate the workers' convenience.

Adding to the mounting evidence of negligence, the contracting firm had received a formal warning from the Labour Department just one week before the tragedy, cautioning them to implement necessary fire safety measures. Ho Ping-tak, Chairman of the Kowloon and Hong Kong Bamboo Scaffolding Workers Union, highlighted a critical economic factor: the substantial cost difference between standard netting and fire-resistant alternatives incentivizes contractors to opt for unapproved materials. He noted that mandating fire-resistant netting remains a recommendation rather than a binding law.

To provide immediate relief, the government swiftly established a support fund totaling 300 million Hong Kong dollars to assist the families affected by this devastating event.