HONG KONG — In one of the most catastrophic urban fires in recent history, Hong Kong authorities concluded a massive search operation Friday through the charred remains of a residential complex where a devastating blaze claimed at least 94 lives. The inferno, which rapidly engulfed seven interconnected towers in the Wang Fuk Court complex, represents the city’s deadliest fire incident in decades.
Firefighters conducted apartment-by-apartment sweeps as their operation transitioned from rescue to recovery. Deputy Director of Hong Kong Fire Services Derek Armstrong Chan confirmed crews prioritized approximately 25 units from which distress calls were received during the height of the emergency but remained unreachable until flames subsided.
The tragedy ignited Wednesday afternoon when renovation scaffolding—constructed primarily from bamboo and covered in netting—caught fire, creating a rapid vertical conduit for flames to jump between buildings. Over 1,000 firefighters battled the five-alarm conflagration for 24 hours before bringing it under control, with sporadic flare-ups continuing to produce smoke nearly two days later.
The Tai Po district complex, housing approximately 4,800 residents across 1,900 apartments with significant elderly population, became the scene of unprecedented destruction. Hong Kong leader John Lee reported 279 residents remained unaccounted for early Thursday, though officials cautioned the final missing persons count would only be determined after complete building searches.
The disaster has triggered multiple investigations, including a corruption probe into renovation practices. Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption has joined the investigation amid allegations of substandard materials and safety violations. Three construction company officials—including directors and an engineering consultant—have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, with police citing evidence of gross negligence.
Authorities identified highly flammable plastic foam panels improperly installed near elevator lobbies and suspect exterior wall materials failed to meet fire resistance standards, contributing to the unusually rapid fire spread. The government has announced immediate safety inspections at all housing estates undergoing major renovations.
With over 70 injured including 11 firefighters, and approximately 900 residents displaced to temporary shelters, the catastrophe has exposed critical safety concerns in urban construction practices. The incident marks the most lethal fire since Hong Kong’s 1996 commercial building blaze that killed 41 people in Kowloon.