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This article has been updated as authorities confirm a revised death toll and launch a criminal and corruption inquiry.
At least 128 people have died, and about 200 remain unaccounted for after a fire spread rapidly across bamboo scaffolding and flammable netting at the Wang Fuk Court estate in Hong Kong. Police have arrested three renovation company staff on suspicion of manslaughter as investigators begin a full probe into safety and fire compliance.
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caffmag previously reported on the fire when the death toll stood at 55. Authorities have now confirmed a significantly higher number of fatalities as rescue operations end and investigators begin entering the damaged towers.
Firefighters and emergency teams battled the blaze for 42 hours across seven of the estate’s eight high-rise blocks. Officials described it as the deadliest residential fire in Hong Kong for nearly eight decades.
The latest figures confirm 128 dead and 79 injured, including 12 firefighters. The extent of structural damage means many of the missing may only be located once full access is possible. The fire department said temperatures reached around 500C, causing repeated flare-ups even after sections were initially controlled.
Investigators say the fire began at a lower level before climbing bamboo scaffolding wrapped in construction mesh. The estate had been undergoing major renovation and was covered in flammable materials, including foam boards used to seal windows. These materials are believed to have accelerated vertical and lateral fire spread under windy conditions.
Police revealed that all eight towers’ fire-alarm systems were not functioning effectively at the time of the incident. Residents told local media that alarms had been disabled during renovation work, and several had previously raised concerns about the type of materials being installed.
Three staff from the renovation contractor, including two company directors and an engineering consultant, have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. Police have also opened a corruption inquiry into renovation approvals and procurement.
Authorities said 89 of the recovered bodies have not yet been identified. Sixteen bodies remain inside the buildings, and recovery teams will begin systematic searches once the structures are deemed safe to enter.
Hong Kong’s government has announced a full review of renovation safety standards, temporary works rules and the use of bamboo scaffolding on occupied buildings. Anger is rising across the city as questions mount over regulatory oversight and enforcement.
Wang Fuk Court, built in 1983, contains nearly 2,000 apartments and housed about 4,600 residents, many of them elderly. With a large number of deaths still unconfirmed, the event is expected to reshape building-safety policy in one of the world’s most densely populated urban areas.
