At least 55 dead as Hong Kong firefighters battle burning towers for a second day
NN ONLINE:
Firefighters in Hong Kong struggled for a second day on Thursday to contain a massive blaze that tore through a densely populated residential complex, killing at least 55 people in one of the city’s deadliest fires in decades.
Thick smoke continued to billow from the Wang Fuk Court complex in the Tai Po district, near the mainland border, where flames were still visible inside several of the high-rise towers by Thursday evening. The fire began Wednesday afternoon, reportedly igniting in bamboo scaffolding and construction netting before rapidly spreading across seven of the complex’s eight buildings.
Authorities said 51 victims were found dead at the scene, while four others died after being taken to hospitals. Among the dead was a firefighter. More than 70 people were injured, many suffering from burns and smoke inhalation, and about 900 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters overnight.
Hong Kong leader John Lee said contact had been lost with 279 people as of early Thursday, though authorities did not clarify how many remained trapped. Rescuers continued searching portions of the damaged towers.
The housing complex, built in the 1980s, has nearly 2,000 apartments and was undergoing major renovation. Police arrested three men—directors and an engineering consultant of a construction company—on suspicion of manslaughter. Investigators believe the company may have used non–fire-resistant materials that contributed to the unusually fast spread of the blaze. Police also seized documents from Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, which had been overseeing renovation work, and found highly flammable Styrofoam affixed near elevator lobbies in one tower. The purpose of the material remains unclear.
The blaze has raised serious concerns over the widespread use of bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong, which officials earlier this year announced would gradually be phased out in public projects. Fire experts said the incident was “shocking,” noting that building regulations typically prevent fires from leaping between towers.
Authorities have ordered immediate inspections at other housing estates undergoing renovation to ensure compliance with safety standards. Lee said the government would hold discussions with industry stakeholders on replacing bamboo scaffolding citywide.
The tragedy marks Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since 1996, when 41 people were killed in a commercial building blaze in Kowloon that burned for 20 hours.