Hong Kong authorities confirmed Wednesday that the devastating Tai Po apartment complex fire has claimed 159 lives, marking one of the deadliest urban disasters in the city’s history. The catastrophic blaze at Wang Fuk Court has left 31 individuals still unaccounted for as search operations concluded across all seven affected towers.
Police Commissioner Joe Chow Yat-ming disclosed that forensic teams have identified 140 victims through meticulous examination, with victims spanning all age groups from 1 to 97 years old. The tragic tally includes 49 men and 91 women, among them one firefighter who perished during rescue operations, ten foreign domestic workers, and five on-site workers.
Medical authorities reported that 42 injured survivors have been discharged from hospitals, while 37 remain under medical care—four in critical condition, nine classified as serious, and 24 in stable condition. Search operations will continue beneath collapsed scaffolding structures where additional victims might be located.
Initial investigations point to substandard protective mesh netting installed during building renovations as a primary factor in the fire’s rapid escalation through the residential complex. In response, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has mandated immediate removal of all similar netting from buildings undergoing major renovations citywide.
The Buildings Department is preparing to implement stringent new safety protocols by next week, requiring all construction site mesh materials to undergo mandatory on-site laboratory testing before installation approval.
Law enforcement agencies have intensified their investigation, arresting six additional individuals aged 44 to 55 for allegedly providing false information to fire authorities about functional alarm systems in the affected buildings. This brings the total number of arrests related to maintenance works to 21, with four separate arrests made for alleged seditious activities connected to the disaster.
The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government issued a strong statement condemning external hostile forces for attempting to exploit the tragedy, warning that such actions would face severe consequences.
Relief efforts continue with 1,921 households receiving HK$10,000 emergency grants and 104 families obtaining HK$50,000 living allowances. Over 2,600 displaced residents are currently accommodated in temporary to long-term housing arrangements, supported by a government-established fund that has accumulated HK$2.3 billion in donations.
The Chinese mainland has contributed additional emergency supplies including protective goggles and waterproof gloves, coordinated through the Ministry of Emergency Management and the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party Central Committee.