Authorities in Hong Kong have taken three men into custody on suspicion of manslaughter, local media reported on Wednesday, after a massive residential blaze left at least 55 people dead and nearly 280 residents unaccounted for in Wang Fuk Court, a residential area in Tai Po, one of the city’s northern districts.
The fire began on Wednesday afternoon and rapidly swept through seven of the eight towers in a large 1980s-era housing estate that recently underwent renovation.
Emergency services evacuated roughly 900 residents, with many moved to temporary shelters as the flames intensified at nightfall.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said early Thursday that firefighters had made steady progress in containing the massive blaze at Wang Fuk Court, following hours of continuous operations.
At a briefing, Lee said that flames were no longer visible from three of the affected towers, while four others continued to show isolated fire spots. He added that the government had activated all available resources to support rescue and recovery efforts.
External scaffolding and strong winds worsened the spread
Investigators said the blaze appears to have started on bamboo scaffolding attached to a 32-storey block undergoing exterior work.
The fire then pushed inward and leapt to adjacent buildings, with windy conditions likely accelerating the spread. Officials said the speed at which the flames travelled prompted a review into whether the exterior materials used in the renovation met Hong Kong’s fire-resistance standards.
Xi Jinping expresses condolences; emergency response continues
Chinese President Xi Jinping extended condolences to the family of a firefighter who died while battling the blaze and expressed sympathy for the victims’ families. State broadcaster CCTV reported that he called for all efforts to minimise further casualties.
More than hundreds of firefighters, police personnel and paramedics were deployed, with over 140 fire trucks and 60 ambulances dispatched. Ladder trucks were used to direct water into upper floors where residents remained stuck.
The incident was escalated to a level-5 alarm, Hong Kong’s highest emergency classification.
Bamboo scaffolding under scrutiny
The blaze renewed concerns about Hong Kong’s widespread use of bamboo scaffolding, which is common on construction and repair sites. Earlier this year, the government signalled an intention to phase it out in public projects, citing safety risks. The scaffolding and protective netting around the Tai Po complex were key factors in the rapid vertical spread of flames, officials said.
Worst fire in decades
The Fire Services Department received the first alert at 2:51 pm on Wednesday, and as the blaze intensified, officials escalated it to a No 5 alarm, Hong Kong’s highest classification, at 6:22 p.m. Rescue operations carried on through the night.
The Education Bureau has deployed educational psychologists and support staff to temporary shelters to assist students affected by the incident. Several schools in the Tai Po area are scheduled to suspend classes on Thursday.
The Tai Po tragedy is Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in years. The last major incident of a similar scale occurred in November 1996, when 41 people died in a level-5 blaze in a Kowloon commercial building that burned for nearly 20 hours.
The investigation into Wednesday’s fire is ongoing.