A massive fire broke out on November 26 at Wang Fuk Court, a high-rise residential estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, engulfing multiple towers and causing widespread devastation. The inferno started on bamboo scaffolding on several apartment buildings before rapidly spreading through at least four blocks of the estate, which houses nearly 2,000 units.
Authorities reported at least four deaths and multiple injuries, including two residents in critical condition and some firefighters hurt while battling the blaze. Fire services quickly escalated the alarm to level 5, the highest in Hong Kong’s fire alert system. Thick plumes of grey smoke billowed from the 31-story towers as firefighters worked intensively with ladders and high-pressure hoses to control the fire.
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Residents trapped inside the buildings have been reported, though the exact numbers remain unclear as rescue operations proceed. The local transport department shut down part of Tai Po Road, a major city thoroughfare, diverting bus routes to facilitate emergency response.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as burning bamboo scaffolding accelerated the spread of the flames, complicating firefighting efforts. This tragedy marks one of the deadliest fires in Hong Kong in recent years.
