Update: Hong Kong Housing Estate Fire Disaster
By Akeem Oduyoye
Not fewer than 146 people have now been confirmed dead in the massive fire that swept through high-rise buildings at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Hong Kong, with officials warning the toll may rise as at least 150 residents remain missing.
The blaze, Hong Kong’s deadliest in more than 70 years, also left 79 people injured and took more than 40 hours and over 2,000 firefighters to fully extinguish.
Authorities say the fire spread rapidly across seven of the estate’s eight tower blocks, fueled by flammable plastic netting and bamboo scaffolding used for renovation works.
Police have arrested 11 people, including engineering directors and scaffolding subcontractors, over alleged corruption and gross negligence linked to the construction materials that allowed the flames to move uncontrollably.
The incident has reignited long-standing concerns about the safety of bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong construction.
Wang Fuk Court, built in 1983, housed nearly 4,600 residents, with close to 40% aged 65 or older. Several had lived in the subsidized estate for decades.
The fire has triggered widespread anger, national mourning, and long queues—stretching up to 2km—as thousands turned out to lay flowers and pray for the victims.
Among the confirmed dead are at least seven Indonesians and one Filipino, according to their respective consulates. A 37-year-old firefighter, Ho Wai-ho, was also found dead after losing contact during the rescue operation.
Hong Kong’s building department has suspended work on 30 private construction projects pending investigation. Police say evidence-gathering inside the blocks is ongoing and could take several weeks as they work to determine the exact cause of the blaze.