A catastrophic fire that erupted on November 26, 2025, at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has drawn an outpouring of international sympathy and support. The blaze, which consumed seven of eight apartment blocks in the residential complex built in 1983, has resulted in 128 confirmed fatalities as of November 28.
The international response has been swift and comprehensive. Over thirty governments, including their consular representatives in Hong Kong, have extended formal condolences to the victims’ families while expressing solidarity with the injured and affected communities. Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed his sympathies through an official Kremlin statement, while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese personally addressed the tragedy during a press conference, stating: ‘My heart goes out to the people who have lost their lives and the people who are searching and concerned about loved ones.’
Harvey Rouse, head of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao SARs, specifically commended the emergency responders, expressing support for Hong Kong’s firefighters, paramedics, and medical personnel battling the aftermath.
Migrant communities, particularly affected due to the dense concentration of foreign domestic workers in the area, have received targeted assistance. The Philippine Consulate General reported one injured national and one missing among 24 confirmed safe Filipinos, while Indonesian authorities established emergency hotlines and coordination mechanisms with local agencies. Various migrant support organizations including the Mission For Migrant Workers, Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, and the International Migrants Alliance have established on-ground operations at Kwong Fuk Estate Podium providing medical aid, psychological counseling, and temporary shelter arrangements.
The International Social Service Hong Kong Branch has activated cross-border support mechanisms for affected families who were on the Chinese mainland during the incident, establishing a special relief fund and deploying ethnic minority outreach teams to address language and cultural barriers in assistance distribution.