TAI PO, Hong Kong — A catastrophic, level-five fire that engulfed seven residential towers in the Wang Fuk Court public housing estate this week has killed at least 94 people, including one 37-year-old firefighter, and left over 200 residents unaccounted for, authorities confirmed Friday. The massive blaze, which began Wednesday at the nearly 2,000-unit complex in Tai Po, has now sparked a major criminal investigation, with police arresting three men connected to the building’s controversial renovation project on suspicion of manslaughter.
Recovery efforts continued Friday morning, two days after the inferno began spreading across the estate. Undertakers recovered five bodies near dawn on Friday, two of which were small enough to be children, officials noted. The death toll climbed steadily throughout the night, reaching 94 by 6:38 a.m. Friday, with 76 people injured, including 11 fire service personnel. Hospital Authority reports indicated that of the surviving injured, 12 remained in critical condition, 28 were serious, and 16 were stable as of Friday morning.
The fire service believes the blaze, which first broke out on exterior scaffolding and spread rapidly through the buildings undergoing major maintenance, was largely suppressed late Thursday, though crews maintained vigilant efforts to prevent flare-ups.
Concerns Raised Over Flammable Materials and Maintenance
Initial findings point to critical failures in safety protocols related to the ongoing MOP$330 million (approximately US$42 million) renovation project at the 41-year-old estate. Officials from the Security Bureau and Fire Services Department noted that highly flammable materials, including expanded polystyrene foam boards (often referred to as Styrofoam) and non-compliant plastic sheeting used for external protection, likely accelerated the fire’s deadly spread across multiple blocks. Eyewitness accounts suggest the fire ignited on a protective net surrounding the scaffolding and was followed by a series of explosions before engulfing the structures.
In the wake of the tragedy, police arrested two directors and an engineering consultant, aged 52 to 68, from the contracting company involved in the maintenance work. They face charges of manslaughter, stemming from gross negligence leading to significant loss of life. Separately, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has launched an investigation into potential corruption surrounding the costly renovation contract, which had already faced stiff opposition and controversy from residents over the steep fees and lack of transparency in the bidding process.
Families Search for Missing Loved Ones
Distraught residents whose homes were destroyed continue a desperate vigil near the smoking ruins, waiting for news of missing family members. The government has established a temporary identification center at a nearby community hall, where families are asked to view photos of recovered victims to help identify the deceased. Several residents described the emotionally grueling process, noting that officials provided psychological counseling from Red Cross personnel on site.
Chief Executive John Lee visited the scene and announced immediate relief measures for the affected residents. The government is allocating MOP$300 million to a relief fund, distributing MOP$10,000 to every affected household, and securing 1,800 temporary housing units in hotels and transitional housing, providing accommodation for up to two weeks until longer-term solutions are in place.
In a gesture of public mourning, all government-organized celebratory events scheduled have been canceled, and some official websites have adopted a grayscale scheme to honor the victims. The tragedy has cast a somber shadow over the city, raising urgent questions about fire safety regulations and oversight of large-scale public housing maintenance projects across Hong Kong.
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