A devastating fire ripped through a residential complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, claiming 13 lives and leaving numerous residents trapped within the burning buildings. The blaze at Wang Fuk Court housing estate spread rapidly across seven high-rise apartment blocks, creating a massive column of flames and thick smoke that illuminated the night sky.
Casualties and Emergency Response
Hong Kong fire services confirmed the tragic death toll Wednesday evening. Nine victims were declared dead at the scene, while four others succumbed to their injuries after being transported to hospital. At least 15 people suffered injuries in the inferno, and approximately 700 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters as their homes became engulfed in flames.
The casualties included one firefighter who lost his life battling the blaze, while another emergency responder required treatment for heat exhaustion. Fire Services Department Director Andy Yeung provided these sobering details during a press conference as the emergency operation continued into the night.
Rapid Spread and Challenging Conditions
The fire began mid-afternoon and quickly escalated to a level 5 alarm—the highest severity rating in Hong Kong's fire warning system. The flames spread with alarming speed across bamboo scaffolding and construction netting that surrounded the exterior of the residential complex in the New Territories district.
Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of Fire Services (Operations), described the extremely difficult conditions facing rescue teams. "Debris and scaffolding of the affected buildings are falling down," Chan reported. "The temperature inside the buildings concerned is very high. It's difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations."
Authorities deployed massive resources to combat the blaze, including 128 fire trucks and 57 ambulances. Video footage showed firefighters directing water streams at intense flames from elevated ladder truck positions, while police officers and paramedics assisted with evacuation and medical care.
Community Impact and Resident Accounts
The Wang Fuk Court complex consists of eight residential blocks containing nearly 2,000 apartments that typically house about 4,800 people. District officials quickly opened temporary shelters for those displaced by the disaster, with many residents losing their homes and possessions to the flames.
Lo Hiu-fung, a Taipo District Council member, expressed particular concern for elderly residents during an interview with local TV station TVB. The council member indicated that most of the people still trapped in the burning buildings were believed to be senior citizens.
One resident who provided only his surname, Wu, shared his distress with television reporters. "I've given up thinking about my property," Wu said while watching the devastating scene unfold. "Watching it burn like that was really frustrating."
As night fell over Hong Kong, the fire continued to rage with authorities acknowledging that conditions remained extremely challenging for firefighters. The cause of the blaze wasn't immediately determined, though officials confirmed it originated at the external scaffolding of one building before spreading to interior spaces and adjacent blocks, potentially aided by windy conditions.
