The devastating fire that swept through the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has left the city reeling, as the death toll climbed to 159, including a firefighter, by December 3, 2025. Authorities and residents alike are grappling with the scale of the tragedy, which has exposed troubling lapses in safety and oversight during a major renovation project at the sprawling high-rise complex.
The blaze, which erupted late on November 26, began at Wang Cheong House and quickly engulfed six of the estate’s eight residential towers. According to Caliber.Az and AP, the fire’s rapid spread was fueled by highly flammable styrofoam materials and substandard plastic nylon mesh used on the bamboo scaffolding that wrapped the buildings for ongoing renovations. The estate had been under construction since July 2024, with its towers shrouded in green protective netting—a detail that would prove tragically significant.
As rescue and recovery efforts continued, officials confirmed that seventy-nine people were injured, including twelve firefighters who battled the inferno for more than 40 hours. About thirty residents remained unaccounted for as of December 4, with police Commissioner Joe Chow noting, “We have not finished our work yet.” Chow explained that suspected human bones had been found in various apartments, and authorities would conduct DNA testing for identification. Search teams were also combing through piles of collapsed bamboo scaffolding, fearing additional victims might be buried beneath the debris.
The fire took a devastating toll on the estate’s diverse community. The youngest victim was just one year old, and the oldest was ninety-seven, according to AP. Among the dead were ten migrant domestic helpers—nine from Indonesia and one from the Philippines—underscoring the tragedy’s far-reaching impact on Hong Kong’s migrant workforce. Nineteen bodies remained unidentified in the days following the disaster.
Amid mounting grief, the question of accountability loomed large. Police arrested six individuals employed by a fire service installation contractor, accusing them of deactivating some fire alarms during the renovation work and making false statements to the fire services department. Residents and officials had reported that some alarms failed to sound when the blaze broke out, though the exact extent of the malfunction remains unclear. “Some fire alarms in the buildings failed to sound when the blaze broke out,” police said, according to AP.
The investigation did not stop there. Hong Kong’s anti-corruption body and police arrested fifteen more people, including directors at construction companies, as part of a broader probe into corruption and negligence related to the renovation project. Authorities are particularly focused on the role of substandard materials and possible falsification of fire safety inspection reports. Chris Tang, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, explained that initial findings at two housing complexes—including Wang Fuk Court—revealed suspected falsification of fire safety inspection reports for scaffolding nets. Police are investigating companies believed to have provided these reports, including the Binzhou Inspection and Testing Center in China.
In response to the disaster, government officials on December 3 ordered the removal of all external scaffolding nets from hundreds of buildings across the city that are undergoing major renovations. The materials must be tested and cleared before any reinstallation, a sweeping measure prompted by the initial findings at Wang Fuk Court and another housing complex.
Meanwhile, the city’s leadership has pledged transparency and reform. The Hong Kong government announced the formation of a judge-led independent review committee to investigate the cause of the disaster and determine whether safety standards were breached. The review aims to provide answers not only for the families of the victims but also for a city shaken by the scale of the tragedy and the apparent lapses in oversight that allowed it to unfold.
As the investigation proceeds, the practical realities for survivors and residents remain challenging. Wang Chi House, the only block not reached by the flames, became a focal point for displaced families. On December 3 and 4, residents of Wang Chi House were permitted to return briefly to collect essential belongings—medications, warm clothing, personal documents, and household appliances. Each household was allowed two people to enter their flat for a 90-minute period between 9 am and 9 pm. However, the timeline for a permanent return remains uncertain, as officials have not yet completed structural inspections and forensic investigations needed to ensure safety.
Support services have been mobilized to assist those affected. Hotlines have been activated for information and emotional support, including a police casualty inquiry line, a mental health support service operated by the Health Bureau, and a dedicated help desk at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital. Donations and emergency contributions for relief efforts have poured in, reaching HK$2.3 billion (US$294 million) as reported by Caliber.Az.
For many in Hong Kong, the fire has become a symbol of broader concerns about building safety, regulatory enforcement, and the risks posed by large-scale renovation projects in densely populated urban environments. The use of bamboo scaffolding—a traditional construction method in Hong Kong—has come under renewed scrutiny, especially when combined with modern materials that may not meet rigorous safety standards. The presence of highly flammable styrofoam and substandard mesh on the scaffolding at Wang Fuk Court is now seen as a critical factor in the disaster’s deadly progression.
The city’s response has included both immediate action—such as the removal of suspect scaffolding nets—and longer-term commitments to reform. The independent review committee’s findings are expected to shape future regulations and enforcement, with the goal of preventing a similar tragedy from occurring again. Yet, for the families of the 159 victims and the survivors still searching for closure, the process of healing will be long and fraught with unanswered questions.
As Hong Kong mourns, the story of Wang Fuk Court stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of regulatory lapses, the importance of rigorous safety standards, and the resilience of a community united in grief and determination to seek justice.