Hong Kong high-rise death roll reaches 44, hundreds missing as construction bosses arrested

The massive blaze sweeping through a residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has killed at least 44 people, with fears the death toll will climb sharply as 279 residents remain unaccounted for.

The fire, described as one of the city’s worst in decades, engulfed multiple apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court complex on Wednesday afternoon and continued burning into the early hours of the morning.

More than 800 firefighters and emergency workers have been deployed to the scene, battling intense heat and dangerous nighttime conditions. Officials say the blaze remains active in parts of the development, though crews have managed to bring four of the eight affected buildings under control. Seven people remain in critical condition among the 29 being treated in hospital.

Authorities have classified the disaster as a level five incident – the most serious category in Hong Kong’s system – and launched a criminal investigation into the rapid spread of the flames. Police confirmed the arrest of two directors and a consultant from a construction company involved in extensive renovations at the complex, accusing them of gross negligence. Investigators say they discovered polystyrene boards blocking windows, along with other substandard materials believed to have acted as fuel and impeded escape routes.

Deputy fire director Derek Armstrong Chan told reporters that extreme temperatures inside the structures and the risks of operating at night were slowing progress. He warned that it could take the entire day before the fire is fully contained. Residents and local councillors report frantic appeals from families who have lost contact with relatives inside the buildings.

Emergency crews have rescued several trapped occupants, including a baby and an elderly woman, but access to upper floors remains hazardous. The government has paid tribute to a 37-year-old firefighter who died after entering the complex, praising him as “dedicated and gallant”.

The Fire Services Department received its first report at 14:51 on Wednesday, and since then flames have continued to flare throughout the complex. Officials earlier described the speed of the fire’s spread as “unusual,” prompting investigations by police and housing authorities into possible safety breaches.

With large sections of the apartment blocks still burning and hundreds unaccounted for, authorities warn the true scale of the tragedy may not be known for some time.

🚨HONGKONG 🇭🇰: Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in 17 years has killed at least 36 people, including a firefighter, with 279 others reported missing after a massive blaze swept through multiple high-rise apartment buildings in Tai Po on Wednesday night. #china #fire #HongKong pic.twitter.com/IDe32IPEOX

— Washington Report (@Washington_Rep) November 26, 2025