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Deadly blaze engulfs Hong Kong housing complex, killing 13
A massive fire tore through multiple high-rise buildings in Hong Kong's Tai Po district on Wednesday, killing at least 13 people and injuring 15 others, authorities confirmed. The blaze erupted at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate at 14:51 local time (06:51 GMT), escalating to the city's highest fire alert-level five-by 18:22 as flames spread rapidly through bamboo scaffolding used for renovations.
Firefighting challenges and casualties
Over 700 firefighters battled the inferno, but extreme heat and structural hazards hindered rescue efforts. Nine victims died at the scene, while four others succumbed to injuries in hospital. Among the dead was firefighter Ho Wai-ho, 37, who collapsed after losing contact with his unit and was later pronounced dead.
Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of fire services, described the conditions as "extremely dangerous," noting that internal temperatures made it "difficult to enter the buildings and conduct operations." Tai Po District Councillor Mui Siu-fung told BBC Chinese that firefighters struggled to access upper floors for search-and-rescue missions.
Evacuations and infrastructure impact
The eight-tower Wang Fuk Court complex-home to roughly 4,000 residents-was largely evacuated, though authorities could not confirm whether others remained trapped. Seven of the eight blocks, all undergoing renovations, sustained severe damage to their external bamboo scaffolding, a common but controversial construction method in Hong Kong.
Nearby buildings were cleared as a precaution, while roads closed and over 30 bus routes diverted, per the Transport Department. Temporary shelters opened at Kwong Fuk Community Hall and Tung Cheong Street Leisure Building to house displaced residents.
Safety concerns over bamboo scaffolding
The fire's rapid spread underscored longstanding risks tied to bamboo scaffolding, which is assembled by binding poles with nylon fasteners. Local media reported in March that the government's Development Bureau had moved to phase out the practice due to safety hazards. The last level-five fire in Hong Kong occurred 17 years ago at Cornwall Court in Mong Kok, where four died in a 1962-built structure.
"The temperature inside the buildings concerned are very high, so it's quite difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations."
Derek Armstrong Chan, Deputy Director of Fire Services
