A significant fire has occurred across multiple high-rise apartment blocks in Hong Kong, resulting in at least 13 fatalities and 15 injuries. The incident prompted a large-scale emergency response and the evacuation of numerous residents.
Incident Commencement and Location
The blaze initiated at Wang Fuk Court, a large residential complex located in Hong Kong's Tai Po district. It was first reported at 14:51 local time (06:51 GMT) on a Wednesday. Wang Fuk Court comprises eight 31-storey tower blocks, with seven of them affected by the fire. These blocks collectively provide 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 residents, according to the 2021 government census. Constructed in 1983, the buildings were undergoing renovations and were enveloped in bamboo scaffolding at the time of the fire. Footage indicates that the fire spread rapidly through this bamboo material. Some residents have reported in local media that fire alarms did not activate.
Severity and Emergency Response
The Hong Kong fire department classified the incident as a level five alarm, which is the highest severity rating. The classification was elevated to level four within 40 minutes of the initial report and then to level five approximately three and a half hours later, at 18:22. This marks the first level five fire in Hong Kong in 17 years. The intensity of the heat impeded firefighters' efforts to access the buildings for rescue operations. Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of fire services, stated that falling debris and scaffolding posed additional risks to personnel. A total of 767 firefighters, 128 fire engines, 57 ambulances, and approximately 400 police officers were deployed to the scene.
Casualties and Evacuation Measures
Initially, four fatalities were reported, with the death toll subsequently rising to 13. Nine individuals were pronounced dead at the scene. The number of injured persons was revised down to 15 from an initial count of 28. Police officers utilized loudspeakers to assist residents in locating missing family members. Among the deceased is Ho Wai-ho, a 37-year-old firefighter from Sha Tin Fire Station, who had served for nine years. Contact with him was lost at 15:30, and he was found collapsed about 30 minutes later, subsequently dying in hospital. At least one other firefighter remains hospitalized. A mass evacuation of Wang Fuk Court and neighboring buildings was conducted. Several emergency shelters, including the Tung Cheong Street Sports Centre, were established to accommodate displaced residents. Coaches were arranged to transport individuals to community halls designated to remain open overnight. An emergency monitoring and support center has been activated, and a public hotline (+852 1878 999) has been set up by Hong Kong police for inquiries regarding casualties.
Role of Bamboo Scaffolding
The affected tower blocks at Wang Fuk Court were covered in bamboo scaffolding and green construction netting as part of ongoing renovations. Bamboo scaffolding is a traditional construction method in Hong Kong, recognized for its rapid growth, light weight, and strength, and is considered an iconic element of the city's urban landscape. Hong Kong is one of the few remaining global cities to utilize bamboo in modern construction. Reports from March indicated that the government's development bureau had been working to phase out bamboo scaffolding due to safety concerns. A spokesperson for the bureau, Terence Lam, cited "intrinsic weaknesses such as variation in mechanical properties, deterioration over time and high combustibility" as reasons for these concerns. While the precise cause of the current fire remains under investigation, authorities observed its rapid spread, including to adjacent buildings, through the bamboo scaffolding.