Crystal Dike
At least 13 people were killed on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, when a massive Level Five fire tore through multiple high-rise buildings at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, authorities confirmed.
The blaze broke out at about 2:51 p.m. local time (06:51 GMT) and was rapidly escalated to a Level Four alarm within 40 minutes as flames spread swiftly across the tower blocks. By 6:22 p.m., the fire was raised to the highest Level Five classification. As of Wednesday night, at least 15 persons had been injured, with nine victims declared dead at the scene.
Footage from the area showed towering flames and thick clouds of grey smoke billowing from at least three residential towers, lighting up the skyline as night fell. Authorities said 767 firefighters were deployed in one of the largest emergency responses in the city’s recent history.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but officials said the flames likely spread rapidly through bamboo scaffolding that covered the exterior of the buildings, which were undergoing renovation.
Among the victims was a firefighter, 37-year-old Ho Wai-ho, who had served with the Fire Services Department for nine years. He was found collapsed at the scene about 30 minutes after contact with him was lost. Director of Fire Services, Andy Yeung, described him as a “dedicated and gallant fireman,” adding that the entire service was “deeply saddened by the loss of a brave colleague who died in the line of duty.”
Police evacuated nearby buildings as a precaution, while the government opened temporary shelters at the Kwong Fuk Community Hall and the Tung Cheong Street Leisure Building to accommodate displaced residents. A help desk was also established at the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, alongside a public hotline for enquiries and family tracing.
Hong Kong’s Transport Department said a large evacuation zone remained in place around the area, with several roads closed and more than 30 bus routes diverted due to the emergency.
Wang Fuk Court is a large public housing estate made up of eight tower blocks, providing 1,984 apartments to an estimated 4,000 residents. The complex was undergoing refurbishment at the time of the incident. Bamboo scaffolding, commonly used across Asia for its light weight and strength, had been erected around the affected buildings.
However, media reports in March 2025 indicated that Hong Kong’s Development Bureau had begun efforts to phase out bamboo scaffolding because of growing safety concerns, following a series of construction-related incidents.
The disaster marks Hong Kong’s first Level Five fire in 17 years. The last such incident occurred in 2008, when a deadly fire at Cornwall Court in Mong Kok claimed four lives.
As investigations continue into the cause of the blaze, authorities have pledged a full safety review of the affected estate and surrounding structures, while families of the victims begin the painful process of mourning their dead.