By Gabe WhisnantShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberHong Kong’s deadliest fire in years burned late into the night Wednesday as the city’s leader confirmed that at least 36 people, including a firefighter, had died and another 279 were reported missing.
The blaze tore through seven high-rise apartment buildings in a large housing complex in the Tai Po district, a suburban area in the New Territories. Hundreds of residents were evacuated as firefighters battled flames that spread rapidly across scaffolding and into multiple towers. At least 29 people remained hospitalized, authorities said.
The fire is Hong Kong’s deadliest in decades. In November 1996, 41 people were killed in a level-5 blaze that engulfed a commercial building in Kowloon for nearly 20 hours.
Chinese President Xi Jinping extended condolences to the family of the firefighter who died and expressed sympathies to the victims’ families, according to state broadcaster CCTV. He urged emergency responders to “minimize casualties and losses.”
...What Caused the Fire in Hong Kong?
Chief Executive John Lee said police and the Fire Services Department had formed a special investigation team to determine the cause of the fire. He said the situation was “coming under control” shortly after midnight, hours after the fire erupted mid-afternoon and was later raised to a level-5 alarm, the city’s highest.
The fire broke out on external scaffolding at one of the buildings, a 32-story tower undergoing renovation, officials said. It then spread inside the building and to several adjacent towers, aided by strong winds and the dense network of bamboo scaffolding and construction netting common on Hong Kong building sites. A large column of flames and thick smoke could be seen for hours as the blaze raced upward and across the exteriors of the buildings.
Hong Kong authorities announced earlier this year that bamboo scaffolding would be phased out for public construction projects because of safety concerns.
How Many People Have Been Evacuated?
The housing complex includes eight towers containing nearly 2,000 apartments and home to about 4,800 residents, including many older adults. Built in the 1980s, the complex has been undergoing major refurbishment, which included the installation of bamboo scaffolding around the buildings.
About 700 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters, according to BBC. Some reports said more than 1,000 residents were moved to shelters as authorities opened community centers to house those displaced.
Fire officers said extreme heat made rescue operations especially difficult. Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of fire service operations, said falling debris and collapsing scaffolding posed significant hazards. “The temperature inside the buildings concerned is very high,” he said. “It’s difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations.”
The Fire Services Department said it received “numerous” calls for help throughout the afternoon and evening and that some residents remained trapped inside as night fell. More than 140 fire trucks and 60 ambulances were deployed, along with hundreds of firefighters, police officers, and paramedics. Crews used ladder trucks to spray water onto the towering flames as black smoke poured from windows.
The dead included a 37-year-old firefighter. Another firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion, Fire Services Director Andy Yeung said.
Local officials opened temporary shelters for residents displaced by the fire. One woman, who gave only the surname Wu, told local broadcaster TVB that she had little hope her home survived. “I’ve given up thinking about my property,” she said. “Watching it burn like that was really frustrating.”
What is the Population of Tai Po?
Tai Po sits near the border with Shenzhen in mainland China. The population of the Tai Po District in Hong Kong is approximately 316,470, according to 2021 data.
Updates: 11/26/25, 1:22 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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