Deadly Blaze Engulfs Hong Kong High-Rises: At Least Four Dead in Tai Po Fire

A massive, devastating fire ripped through multiple high-rise residential towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, resulting in at least four fatalities and leaving several residents trapped. The blaze, which broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a densely populated government-subsidized housing complex, prompted a major emergency response that saw scores of firefighters and ambulances deployed to the scene.

The fire erupted at Wang Fuk Court, a complex of 31-storey residential blocks housing approximately 2,000 apartments in Tai Po, an area near the border with mainland China. The Fire Services Department received reports of the fire in the early afternoon, swiftly escalating the situation to a No. 4 alarm—the second-highest level—indicating a serious incident.

As thick black smoke and flames poured out of the buildings, firefighters battled the inferno late into the evening. Compounding the challenge was the presence of bamboo scaffolding, which is still commonly used in Hong Kong construction and surrounded the buildings, which were reportedly undergoing major renovation work. Wang Fuk Court has been occupied since 1983.

The city government and fire services confirmed that at least four people have died. In addition, two residents remain in critical condition with severe burn injuries, and other people, including fire personnel, have also been reported hurt. Authorities are still actively assessing the total number of people who may have been trapped inside the towers as they continued search and rescue operations.

Witnesses gathered on a nearby overhead walkway, watching in horror as the fire consumed the residential blocks. The emergency response forced the closure of a major stretch of Tai Po Road, a key city highway, leading to bus route diversions.

This tragedy comes less than a year after a similar high-rise fire in Hong Kong’s Kowloon district resulted in the deaths of five people, raising critical questions about safety and fire-prevention standards in the city’s densely packed housing areas.