At least 36 people were killed and hundreds are missing after a fire engulfed several high-rise residential towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district Wednesday. The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the local community, has prompted an immediate and extensive response from Hong Kong’s emergency services. The Fire Services Department responded swiftly, declaring the fire to be at its most severe level, a ‘No. 5 alarm’, as the blaze raged out of control.
John Lee, Hong Kong’s chief executive, addressed the public at a press conference, expressing deep sorrow for the victims and outlining the massive human toll of the disaster. He reported that 279 people are still missing, and 29 have been hospitalized, including seven in critical condition. ‘Police and the Fire Services Department have already set up a dedicated investigation team to investigate the cause of the fire,’ Lee told reporters, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the wake of the tragedy.
The fire broke out at the Wang Fuk Court, a residential complex in Tai Po, in the northern New Territories, around 2:50 p.m., according to the Fire Services Department. Firefighters arrived on the scene quickly, but the sheer scale and intensity of the blaze made containment nearly impossible. The incident escalated rapidly, with thick smoke filling multiple floors of the buildings. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with residents scrambling to escape as flames spread through the structure.
Among the victims was a firefighter who lost his life while attempting to rescue others. Tang Ping-keung, the security secretary of Hong Kong, acknowledged the sacrifice of the fireman, stating, ‘I am profoundly grieved at the passing of Mr Ho, who lost his life in the course of an operation. I offer my deepest condolences to his family members.’ His death has underscored the risks faced by emergency personnel in such extreme conditions.
Residents described the fire as having been extremely difficult to detect, with many noting that the fire alarms failed to activate. Chan Kwong-tak, an 83-year-old retiree, told the South China Morning Post that the alarms did not sound when the blaze broke out, even though the buildings were equipped with them. He said, ‘If someone was sleeping then, they were done.’ Similarly, Tai Po’s former district councillor, Herman Yiu Kwan-ho, reported that residents did not hear the alarms until a security guard knocked on their doors, leaving little time to evacuate.
Authorities have since established temporary shelters for those affected, with the Tai Po District Office coordinating the efforts to house displaced residents. These shelters include the Kwong Fuk Community Hall and the Tung Cheong Street Community Hall. As the search for missing persons continues, officials have stressed the importance of learning from the incident to prevent similar tragedies in the future.