The death toll from Wednesday’s Hong Kong apartment fire has reached 128, with about 200 people still missing, officials announced as rescue efforts concluded. Firefighters spent Friday searching the high-rises for survivors after the massive blaze engulfed seven of eight towers in one of the city’s worst fire disasters.
Authorities reported recovering 108 bodies from the buildings, with 16 still inside. Security Secretary Chris Tang stated on Friday afternoon that four people died from injuries in hospitals, and 79 others, including 11 firefighters, were injured. Approximately 200 individuals remain unaccounted for, and 89 bodies have yet to be identified.
Fire Services Chief Andy Yeung confirmed residents’ claims that no fire alarms sounded in any of the eight towers, vowing to take action against responsible contractors. Later Friday, Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency arrested eight people—seven men and one woman—including engineering consultants, scaffolding contractors, and a middleman. Three other construction executives were already detained.
Although the fire is extinguished, officials noted they must wait for temperatures in some areas, still exceeding 200°C (390°F), to cool before entering. Evidence collection is estimated to take three to four weeks.
At the nearby Kwong Fuk estate community center, more people arrived to identify victims recovered from the burned buildings. Few names of the deceased have been released, and Tang withheld demographic details of the confirmed dead.
Yeung described the fire as extremely intense, with temperatures reaching 500 degrees or higher, hindering access to upper floors. He added that narrow interiors and cluttered units forced firefighters to work slowly through each floor and apartment.
The fire broke out Wednesday afternoon in the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, rapidly spreading through the eight-tower estate housing over 4,600 residents. The buildings were under renovation, covered in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh. Tang asserted the mesh met safety standards, blaming highly flammable polystyrene foam in elevator windows for fueling the fire’s intensity. He explained the blaze began in the lower part of Wang Cheong tower, igniting the mesh and foam before entering the building, with broken windows, strong winds, and falling debris aiding its spread.
Hong Kong’s labour department revealed that the building contractor had received multiple written warnings about fire prevention after inspections over the past year uncovered unsafe practices, with the latest check on November 20. However, the department had considered the fire risk relatively low, noting the scaffold netting seemed to meet flame-retardant standards.
Most fatalities occurred in two of the seven affected towers, while survivors were mainly rescued from the others. A resident, Mr. Lau, shared his account.His parents were missing, and he feared they hadn’t survived. Crying, he told reporters he had no details. “I know nothing about what happened there,” he said. “I just need to find out whether my parents are alive or dead. If they’ve passed away, I don’t even want to see their bodies. I only want confirmation so I can stop worrying.”
Another resident from the 10th floor of one tower said her family was safe but her neighbors were missing. “I can’t bear to watch TV, check community updates, or read news on my phone,” she explained. “I just wish life would return to normal, but it feels impossible right now.”
Indonesia’s consul general, Yul Edison, arrived Friday afternoon to assist with identifying the victims.
Firefighters were seen near the scene of the Wang Fuk Court fire.
Many Indonesians work as domestic helpers in buildings like Wang Fuk Court. Edison confirmed at least one Indonesian citizen was among the deceased. An NGO spokesperson for the Mission for Migrant Workers reported that 11 Indonesian domestic helpers were still missing out of the 119 known to live there.
The Philippines consulate stated one Filipino domestic worker remained missing, one was injured, and 24 were safe. A crowdsourced web app has gathered reports about each building, listing individual apartments with resident details.
One report from block F, where the fire started, noted: “A 41-year-old man went missing at 4:45 PM. His last message said he was trapped on the 25th-26th floor stairwell.” Another confirmed the deaths of a 60-year-old man, a 90-year-old woman, and their 40-year-old Indian domestic helper on the 11th floor. Eight floors above, four people were reported dead in one apartment.
The fire has sparked demands for stricter fire safety regulations in construction. Lee Kwong-sing of the Hong Kong Institute of Safety Practitioners told RTHK, “There’s no law requiring flame-retardant materials. It’s only in the labour department’s guidelines, so many ignore them since it’s not illegal. But making those codes mandatory would change everything.”
Additional research by Lillian Yang.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the Hong Kong tower block fire designed to be clear concise and helpful
Basic Information
Q1 What happened
A There was a major fire in a residential tower block in Hong Kong Rescue operations have now ended
Q2 How many people died
A The death toll has been confirmed at 128 people
Q3 Is the fire still burning
A No the fire has been extinguished and all rescue operations have concluded
Q4 Where exactly did this happen
A The fire occurred in a specific residential building in Hong Kong
During and After the Incident
Q5 Why was the death toll so high
A Highrise fires are extremely dangerous Factors can include rapid fire spread dense population blocked escape routes and difficulties for firefighters to reach the upper floors quickly
Q6 What are the main challenges firefighters face in a tall building fire
A They face challenges like getting water to upper floors high heat and smoke navigating complex layouts and the potential for people being trapped far from ground level
Q7 What happens now that rescue operations are over
A The focus shifts to recovery which includes identifying the victims supporting the families of the deceased and injured investigating the cause of the fire and assessing the buildings safety
Q8 How can I find out if a loved one was involved
A Authorities typically set up a dedicated hotline and an information center for families to seek information and assistance
Broader Context and Safety
Q9 What is a tower block
A Its another term for a highrise apartment building often with many floors and a large number of residents living in a single structure
Q10 Are highrise buildings safe from fire
A They are designed with safety features but they present unique risks Their safety depends on strict adherence to fire codes working sprinklers and alarms clear escape routes and resident awareness
Q11 What is a common fire safety problem in older residential towers
A Common problems can include blocked or locked emergency exits improperly stored items in hallways faulty electrical wiring and nonfunctional fire
