Hong Kong blaze death toll climbs to 44 with nearly 300 missing after inferno engulfs high-rises

HONG KONG (AFP) — At least 44 people were k.i.l.l.e.d and nearly 300 others remained missing Thursday after a massive fire tore through a cluster of high-rise residential towers in Hong Kong’s densely packed Tai Po district, marking the city’s deadliest blaze in nearly three decades.

The inferno erupted Wednesday afternoon at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in the northern New Territories, engulfing multiple 32-storey buildings sheathed in flammable bamboo scaffolding used for ongoing refurbishment work. Fire Services Department (FSD) crews responded to initial reports at 2:51 pm local time, escalating the alarm from level three to four — the second-highest in the city — within 45 minutes as flames and thick black smoke billowed from upper floors.

By early Thursday, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee confirmed the rising death toll at a news conference, with 45 people in critical condition at hospitals. Authorities reported 279 residents still unaccounted for, as search and rescue operations continued amid smoldering debris. At least 29 others were hospitalized with injuries ranging from smoke inhalation to burns, according to the FSD.

Eyewitness footage captured bright orange flames licking across several floors, with dense plumes of smoke obscuring the skyline and forcing hundreds of residents to flee in panic. Evacuated tenants, some wrapped in blankets, gathered on nearby streets watching helplessly as firefighters battled the blaze into the night under hazardous conditions. More than 700 people from the complex have been sheltered in local community halls and a sports centre, one of which reached capacity by Wednesday evening.

The fire’s rapid spread has been linked preliminarily to the bamboo scaffolding and protective cladding installed during recent renovations, materials police are investigating for compliance with fire safety standards. A dedicated task force was established to probe the cause, with three individuals arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection to the incident.

Hong Kong police set up a casualty hotline to assist frantic families, while traffic authorities closed a section of Tai Po Road — one of the city’s main highways — and diverted buses due to the chaos. The Education Bureau announced the closure of at least six schools in the area on Thursday, citing the fire and resulting congestion.

The disaster has prompted the cancellation of several public forums and campaign events ahead of the December 7 district council elections. One local resident, who gave only the surname So, described the scene near the estate as “heartbreaking,” adding: “There’s nothing that can be done about the property. We can only hope that everyone, no matter old or young, can return safely.”

Tai Po, a suburban hub near the border with mainland China, is among Hong Kong’s most densely populated zones, underscoring longstanding concerns over high-rise fire safety in the former British colony. The blaze eclipses the city’s worst recent tragedy, a 1996 Kowloon commercial building fire that claimed 41 lives over 20 hours. Earlier this year, authorities announced plans to phase out bamboo scaffolding on public projects amid safety worries.

Lee prioritised extinguishing the flames, rescuing trapped residents and supporting the injured, vowing a “thorough investigation” to prevent future catastrophes. Emergency services reported no further immediate threats as crews worked to secure the site.